Slingshot News: ‘I Don’t Know’: Out-Of-Touch Billionaire Linda McMahon Admits She Doesn’t Know About The Tulsa Race Massacre In House Hearing [Video]
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Tag Archives: Linda McMahon
CNN: 6 universities reject White House funding deal with attached demands. Multiple other schools have yet to respond
6 universities reject White House funding deal with attached demands. Multiple other schools have yet to respond | CNN
The battle for academic freedom and institutional sovereignty in higher education continues to play out as another university has rejected a White House offer for expanded access to federal funding in return for agreeing to a series of demands.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/16/us/trump-universities-compact-funding
Associated Press: Brown University rejects Trump’s offer for priority funding, citing concerns over academic freedom
Brown University rejects Trump’s offer for priority funding, citing concerns over academic freedom
Brown University is rejecting a Trump administration proposal that would provide favorable access to funding in exchange for a wide range of commitments.
https://apnews.com/article/brown-compact-higher-education-trump-b883cf9c23eaed7ee1ba9819430d33d8
ABC News: Special education staff decimated after shutdown firings: Sources
“Who the heck is going to administer this program?”
The nation’s special education services have been significantly impacted after Friday’s mass layoffs within the Department of Education and it could have an immediate impact on children with disabilities, education department sources told ABC News.
“Do people realize that this is happening to this population of vulnerable students?” one education department leader told ABC News.
“[If] there’s no staff, who the heck is going to administer this program? That’s the absurdity of this,” the source, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, added.
The department leader stressed that several employees within the offices of Special Education Programs and the Rehabilitative Services Administration — the two divisions that make up the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) — were cut over the weekend.
The agency enforces the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law creating a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities, and funds special education services to the tune of around $15 billion.
The education department leader called the layoffs to this division “ridiculous,” contending that families of special needs students will be harmed.
“There is a risk that the money to educate their children will not be given to the state, and that their access to support and advocacy for their children with special needs will no longer continue because there is no staff available to administer IDEA,” the department leader noted.
The education department is the smallest cabinet-level agency in the U.S. government.
At the start of the Trump administration, the department had just over 4,000 employees. After buyouts, early retirements, voluntary separations and a Reduction in Force, the agency was shrunk nearly in half earlier this year.
Multiple sources said several departmental offices have now been gutted again, including the offices of Communications and Outreach, Elementary and Secondary Education and other divisions.
A lawsuit brought by the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union of federal workers, said the education department RIFed 466 employees – or at least another 20% of the agency’s workforce — during the shutdown.
Rachel Gittleman, the president of AFGE Local 252, believes all remaining offices in OSERS below the senior executive services level were RIFed Friday.
“The RIF of OSERS and OESE doubles down on the harm to K-12 students and schools across the country, which are already feeling the impacts of a hamstring Office for Civil Rights (OCR) from the March RIF,” she said.
News of the shutdown RIF was surprising for many within the special education offices. The employees who lost their jobs are distraught, according to the source familiar with the RIF.
Education department sources also told ABC News that the job cuts could hamstring states.
“If this RIF notice is carried out, the Department of Education can no longer administer IDEA,” one source said. “I have no staff to put the money out and to monitor the states.”
Critics of the Trump administration’s plans to shutter the agency told ABC News that preserving IDEA is one of their top concerns. It is a statutory program mandated by law and has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, whose mission is to return education power and responsibilities to the state and local level, has attempted to assuage concerns by stating that the department would continue to fully fund and carry out all of Congress’ statutorily required programs.
But the education department leader told ABC News that the latest RIF flies in the face of McMahon’s pledges.
“She’s consistently said she’ll protect IDEA,” the source said. “Well, now, this is not protecting IDEA if they’re getting rid of the team,” adding, “What is she doing with IDEA? Who’s going to administer it?”
The Department of Education did not immediately respond to ABC News’ requests for comment.
President Trump has said the Health and Human Services Department under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will handle the special needs and nutrition programs for students, but that transfer has not happened yet.
Meanwhile, the education department leader predicts remaining staff within the special education division will not be equipped to take on the responsibility of those who were fired.
“That’s like taking a surgeon and telling them you’re now a brick layer or telling a brick layer you’re now a surgeon: It’s like you just don’t do that,” the leader said. “It’s just so absurd.”
Slingshot News: ‘I Disagree With That!’: Linda McMahon Runs Her Motor Mouth When Exposed For Stealing Aid From Low-Income Students In Senate Hearing
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing several months ago, Education Secretary Linda McMahon rambled on with her excuses when Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) exposed her for dismantling the Department of Education’s TRIO programs.
‘I Disagree With That!’: Linda McMahon Runs Her Motor Mouth When Exposed For Stealing Aid From Low-Income Students In Senate Hearing
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing several months ago, Education Secretary Linda McMahon rambled on with her excuses when Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) exposed her for dismantling the Department of Education’s TRIO programs.
Moneywise: The US government is coming for millions of American paychecks — are you one of them? Here’s what to do if Uncle Sam garnishes your wages
Earlier this year, the Trump administration ended programs that gave a break to people who had fallen behind on their student loans. Now, those borrowers have to start paying again — and the government can take money directly from paychecks, tax refunds, or Social Security checks to collect what’s owed.
These changes don’t just impact a small minority. As of July, 5.8 million Americans of all ages could be in technical default, according to TransUnion. That’s one in every three people who have outstanding federal student loans.
If you’ve ever attended college, there’s a significant chance this impacts you. Here’s what you need to know.
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Slingshot News: ‘Let Somebody Else Get Rich’: Trump Plans To Complete His Dismantling Of The Education Department By Selling Off The Buildings
‘Let Somebody Else Get Rich’: Trump Plans To Complete His Dismantling Of The Education Department By Selling Off The Buildings
During a cabinet meeting at the White House yesterday, Donald Trump discussed plans to close down Department of Education buildings and selling them off so that somebody else can “get rich with the real estate.”
Slingshot News: ‘Don’t Tell Me That’: Unruly Billionaire Linda McMahon Refuses To Accept Reality During House Proceeding
Teacher Misery: Linda McMahon Falsely Claims Education Degree
We thought Betsy DeVos, with her complete lack of credentials, was the worst pick for Secretary of Education. Then came Linda McMahon, the queen of World Wrestling Entertainment. But does this woman have any credentials worth mentioning, or are we justified in laughing her out of the building?
1. Professional Background: Businesswoman, Not Educator
Linda McMahon boasts a high-profile resumé as the co-founder and CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), helping to transform it into what is referred to as “a global entertainment powerhouse.” She also served as the head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
As far as direct experience in education, however, there isn’t much. McMahon briefly sat on Connecticut’s State Board of Education from 2009 to 2010 and serves as a trustee at Sacred Heart University, but with limited policy leadership.
2. Educational Credentials: Claim vs. Reality
Although McMahon studied to become a French teacher, she never actually taught anything, ever. She graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in French, not education. Yet, during a vetting questionnaire for the Connecticut Board of Ed., McMahon “misstated” this fact, implying she held a degree in education.
3. Gaps in Policy Knowledge, Basic Knowledge, and Sensitivity
Critics of McMahon point out several concerning things:
- In an interview with The Ingraham Angle, McMahon admitted she didn’t know what IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) fully stands for, vaguely describing it as “programs for disabled needs.”
- During her confirmation hearing, she was uncertain about whether schools could legally offer a Black history class or support ethnic identity clubs, stating she would “want to know what the clubs are doing.” These show foundational gaps in understanding educational law and policy, especially in areas that are essential to student diversity and civil rights.
- While speaking at a panel recently, McMahon confused artificial intelligence, also known as AI, with A1, the same name as the popular sauce brand. She used the term “A1” instead of A.I. multiple times.
4. Dismantling Over Developing
McMahon’s appointment aligns with an agenda less focused on educational advancement and more on structural dismantling. She was tasked with closing or drastically reducing the Department of Education—a mission she is entirely on board with.
Supporters claim that her private-sector leadership is an asset in “upending the education bureaucracy.” But educators warn that the department desperately needs someone who can champion students and teachers, not dismantle the very agency that supports them.
5. Public Concerns and Controversies
McMahon’s nomination has faced pushback from civil rights groups and teachers’ unions. The National Education Association condemned her focus on dismantling public education and diverting funds to private, less accountable institutions.
Other critics have raised ethical concerns. A civil lawsuit alleges that WWE, while under McMahon’s leadership, ignored the sexual abuse of minors within the organization.
While McMahon denies any wrongdoing, the allegations raise questions about her capacity to lead a department responsible for children’s education and welfare. (Also, don’t forget that she doesn’t know the difference between A1 and AI…)
The Qualifications That Are Not There
- Lack of deep educational experience: McMahon’s background in entertainment and business does not compensate for hands-on experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, or educational policy.
- Questionable credibility: Misstating her academic background undermines trust at the outset of her public service role.
- Policy blind spots: Her uncertainty on disability law and race-based programming suggests she may lack the understanding required to support vulnerable student groups.
- Mission conflict: Her mandate centers on dismantling, not improving, the Department of Education. This stands in direct conflict with the traditional role of a secretary tasked with enhancing student learning and equity.
- Secretary Linda McMahon brings political loyalty and business acumen, but educational expertise is notably absent. Her appointment raises serious concerns about leadership that champions dismantling over development, especially during a time when educational equity and federal support are critical. Plus, the whole A1 versus AI thing…
For quick reference, here’s a comparative analysis of Linda McMahon’s qualifications (or lack thereof) relative to recent U.S. Secretaries of Education …
Click one of the links below to continue reading:
Linda McMahon Falsely Claims Education Degree
An overview of the lack of credentials of Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careers/linda-mcmahon-falsely-claims-education-degree/ar-AA1KEbFL
Another pathetic Ivy League school rolls over & sucks up to King Donald :(
Newser: A 3rd Ivy League School Makes a Deal With Trump
Brown University has become the third Ivy League school to settle with the Trump administration over accusations the school has fostered antisemitism. Under the terms, the university in Rhode Island will make $50 million in payments to state workforce development programs over a decade, the New York Times reports. Brown agreed to follow Trump’s policies on “merit-based” admissions policies and to not provide gender-reassignment surgery or treatments to minors. To ensure it is adhering to federal law, Brown will turn over data to the government on its admissions and diversity efforts, per the Washington Post.
In turn, the government promised to restore $50 million in research grants that it had chosen not to pay and pledged not to use the deal “to dictate Brown’s curriculum or the content of academic speech.” An independent monitor will not be appointed to oversee implementation. Brown had not sued after the administration announced in April that it would block $510 million in funding but has said it has borrowed money to replace the federal grants. Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania also reached settlements. White House officials are negotiating with other universities and have said they want the Columbia deal to be a blueprint for making them pay millions.
The Trump administration celebrated the Brown deal. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement that it will be part of the “lasting legacy of the Trump administration, one that will benefit students and American society for generations to come.” A couple of educators found parts of the deal acceptable. “This feels like mostly things that Brown had to do anyway, and had already said it was going to do,” said an environmental studies professor. The president of the American Council on Education was pleased that the money isn’t going to the federal government. “We really look forward to engaging with this administration on matters of policy,” Ted Mitchell said. “But this isn’t policy. This is simple extortion and deal-making, which has no place in a democracy.”
I loathe these spineless surrender monkeys with acute Neville Chamberlain complexes.
A 3rd Ivy League School Makes a Deal With Trump
Brown will pay $50M to state workforce development programs
https://www.newser.com/story/372756/a-3rd-ivy-league-school-makes-a-deal-with-trump.html