The NAACP Authorized Protection Fund (LDF) has issued a scathing critique of Linda McMahon’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Schooling, warning that the previous WWE
Demetria L. McCain
In a letter to Senate management, LDF Director of Coverage Demetria L. McCain outlined 4 main considerations about McMahon’s nomination, together with her obvious assist for dismantling the Division of Schooling, her restricted academic expertise, and her position in creating controversial schooling insurance policies by the America First Coverage Institute (AFPI).
The group expressed specific alarm about McMahon’s alignment with President Trump’s acknowledged intention to remove the Schooling Division.
“President Trump has publicly acknowledged that he needs Ms. McMahon to ‘put herself out of a job,'” McCain wrote, noting that such a transfer would have an effect on packages serving over 50 million college students throughout 18,200 faculty districts.
McMahon’s background as a enterprise govt slightly than an educator drew sharp criticism. The letter highlighted her transient, controversial tenure on the Connecticut Board of Schooling, which led to resignation after one yr amid questions on her credentials. Her major expertise comes from co-founding and operating WWE, with no substantial background in schooling coverage previous to 2009.
The LDF, which received the landmark Brown v. Board of Schooling case, raised particular considerations about McMahon’s stance on educating American historical past. In keeping with the letter, she opposes what she phrases “political indoctrination” in lecture rooms and rejects educating about systemic racism’s affect on American society. The group argues this method might forestall college students from studying about essential historic occasions like Jim Crow legal guidelines and college segregation.
McCain additionally criticized McMahon’s assist for varsity privatization, citing research that recommend such insurance policies can enhance faculty segregation. The letter warned that diverting funds from public to non-public faculties would disproportionately affect Black college students, Latino college students, and college students with disabilities.
The group expressed further concern about McMahon’s management position at AFPI, which she co-founded after Trump’s 2020 election loss. The suppose tank has reportedly drafted practically 300 govt orders and known as for defunding range, fairness, and inclusion packages at universities.
Of specific concern to the LDF is the potential affect on the Workplace for Civil Rights (OCR), which acquired practically 23,000 complaints in 2024, together with vital numbers associated to incapacity discrimination and racial discrimination. The group warns that any weakening of this workplace would hamper the division’s skill to research and resolve discrimination complaints.
“If the Senate confirms Ms. McMahon as Schooling Secretary, she’s going to undoubtedly undermine federal funding in public faculty schooling and key civil rights protections for hundreds of thousands of scholars,” McCain concluded, urging senators to reject the nomination.
