Trump's nom for education sec advances to Senate for final confirmation vote

Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as head of the Department of Education and former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO, has cleared the final procedural vote in the Senate ahead of the final confirmation vote in the chamber. The cloture vote passed with a vote of 51 to 47, per Fox News. 

In nominating McMahon, Trump wrote, "as Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand "Choice" to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decision for their families."

"Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World. We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort." 

Trump has said that he wants to close the Department of Education "immediately," and has said that he wants McMahon to "put herself out of a job."The day before McMahon’s confirmation hearing earlier in February, he said, "It’s a big con job." He added, "They ranked the top countries in the world. We’re ranked No. 40, but we’re ranked No. 1 in one department: cost per pupil. So, we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, but we’re ranked No. 40."

In her hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, McMahon said that she would be "working with Congress" to close the department. 

"We'd like to do this right. We'd like to make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our senators could get on board with, and our Congress could get on board with that would have a better functioning Department of Education but certainly does require congressional action."

She later said, "Fund education freedom, not government-run systems. Listen to parents, not politicians. Build up careers, not college debt. Empower states, not special interests. Invest in teachers, not Washington bureaucrats. If confirmed as Secretary, I will work with Congress to reorient the department toward helping educators, not controlling him."