Linda McMahon appeared on Thursday morning before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) for her confirmation to serve as Secretary of Education in President Donald Trump’s administration.
McMahon, the former WWE executive and longtime political ally of President Donald Trump, was accompanied by her daughter Stephanie McMahon, son-in-law Paul Levesque, and son Shane McMahon, who were seated behind her. Stephanie McMahon and Paul Levesque were visible on camera just over her shoulder throughout the hearing.
During questioning, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) brought up the ring boy lawsuit filed last October, in which five former WWE ring boys accuse Linda and Vince McMahon of negligence that allegedly enabled former ring announcer Mel Phillips—who died in 2012—to abuse them in the 1980s when they were teenagers. Linda McMahon’s attorney has denied the claims. Vince McMahon’s separate representatives have denied the allegations also.
Questions have been raised about Linda McMahon’s past leadership, including the recently-filed lawsuit in which she is a named defendant. NBC News published an article late Wednesday focusing on the claims, and other mainstream outlets have mentioned it in their coverage ahead of the hearing.
Baldwin asked whether sexual assault survivors on college campuses could trust McMahon’s leadership at the Department of Education. McMahon stated that she supports survivors of sexual harassment but did not directly address the lawsuit. She added that she is committed to fair investigations and noted she has grandchildren who are currently in college.
“I have a deep commitment to understanding how I would feel if any of them were involved in sexual harassment or accused of sexual harassment,” McMahon said. “You have my absolute commitment that I would uphold and protect those investigations to ensure that students are treated fairly on both sides.”
Here's the full video of Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) completely bungling her "question" for Linda McMahon about the ring boys child sexual abuse lawsuit and McMahon's response. pic.twitter.com/MnFhdbxoUI
— Babyface v. Heel (@BabyfacevHeel) February 13, 2025
This was the only mention of the lawsuit during the hearing. McMahon also faced broader questions on Title IX; school funding; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
Like other recent confirmation hearings, the proceeding was briefly interrupted a number of times by shouting protesters, until they were removed from the room by Capitol Police.
McMahon was a longtime leading WWE executive before leaving the company in 2009 to pursue a political career, including two unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaigns in Connecticut. She has donated millions to Trump’s presidential campaigns and previously served as head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during his first term. She also served a one-year term on the Connecticut Board of Education in 2009.
Baldwin also questioned McMahon on whether Title IX should prohibit all forms of sexual harassment, including “severe” or “pervasive” cases. McMahon agreed it should. Baldwin noted that Trump believes only “severe and pervasive” cases — where both conditions are met — should be covered. This refers to a debate on the scope of Title IX’s protections against sexual harassment
Senator Chris Murphy (D) — who in 2017 introduced McMahon in her hearing to lead the SBA — challenged McMahon on how schools can determine if they are running a DEI program, given the Trump administration’s opposition to such initiatives. McMahon said DEI efforts were having a “segregating effect.” Murphy pressed further, asking whether celebrating Black History Month constitutes a DEI program. McMahon responded, “Not in my view.”
When Murphy asked if African American history courses could be classified as DEI, McMahon said, “No, that’s not what I’m saying. I would like to look into it and get back to you on that.”
Sen. @ChrisMurphyCT: "There's a possibility…that public schools…could lose federal funding if they continue to teach African American history?"
Education Secretary Nominee Linda McMahon: "I would like to take a look at these programs and fully understand the breadth of the… pic.twitter.com/ynWhZ6n3vU
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 13, 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders (I) pressed McMahon on teacher pay, advocating for a $60,000 minimum salary. McMahon said she would defer to states but recommend pay based on job performance.
Senator Tim Kaine (D) asked if McMahon would delay implementing laws passed by Congress, as former Secretary Betsy DeVos did. McMahon seemed to indicate should would not do as DeVos did. “That’s the law,” McMahon said, suggesting she’s committed to enforcing legislation.
Senator Jon Husted (R) asked about privatization, which he supports. McMahon defended school vouchers, arguing they help improve public schools. Husted emphasized that the administration isn’t cutting funding but changing how money is distributed.
Trump has expressed his desire to eliminate the Department of Education that Linda McMahon would oversee, if confirmed. Trump said earlier this month he hopes McMahon will “put herself out of a job”.
Senator Patty Murray (D) questioned Linda McMahon about the actions of Elon Musk, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the potential elimination of the Department of Education. McMahon responded, stating, “They’re doing an audit” to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse. Murray emphasized that if Congress allocates funds, those funds are expected to be used as directed by Congress. She then asked, “Should DOGE have access to students’ private data?” McMahon replied that DOGE employees operate under constraints when handling private information. Murray pushed back, stating that this was not her understanding.
Later, during questioning from Senator Maggie Hassan (D), McMahon suggested that, rather than the Education Department, funding for special education could come from the Department of Health and Human Services, now led by Robert F. Kennedy, who was confirmed on Thursday.
Senator Ed Markey (D) took issue with McMahon’s claim that the administration won’t cut the Department of Education’s budget, noting that Elon Musk recently proposed cutting $900 million from the department. McMahon said Musk’s group was focused on reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. Markey called cutting education funding while giving tax breaks to the wealthy “immoral.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) asked about rural schools, emphasizing that in many parts of Alaska, there is only one school for students. McMahon said she supports tutoring programs in areas with limited school options.
Senator Roger Marshall (R) asked if she opposes transgender girls in girls’ sports. McMahon responded, “I do not believe that biological boys should be able to compete against biological girls in sports.”
Senator Josh Hawley (R) criticized “men in women’s locker rooms” and transgender women competing in women’s sports. He asked, “What can be done to ensure colleges comply with the law?” McMahon said she would uphold Title IX.
Hawley also brought up Palestinian protests on college campuses, arguing that student visas should be revoked for those who “support terrorist organizations.” McMahon agreed and pledged to ensure Jewish students are safe on campus, which prompted another protester to interrupt the hearing.
Hassan, however, criticized the hearing on the subject of antisemitism, calling the hearing “a very elegant gaslighting.” She noted that the Department of Education is responsible for protecting Jewish students, yet Republicans want to eliminate it.
.@SenatorHassan to Education Secretary Nominee Linda McMahon: "The whole hearing right now feels kind of surreal to me. It's almost like we're being subjected to a very elegant gaslighting here." pic.twitter.com/e7vbXgBEjC
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 13, 2025
Senator John Hickenlooper (D) asked about history education, alluding to Republicans’ efforts to to pushback against emphasis on teaching about subjects like American slavery. McMahon said she supports “teaching our history exactly as it happened” but did not specify what she considers an accurate account.
Earlier in the hearing, Senator Tim Scott (R), a committee member, introduced McMahon, followed by remarks from Senator Katie Britt (R).
Scott raised concerns about what he called the “re-segregation” of schools in the U.S. He emphasized that his support for McMahon was not due to a “passion for billionaires” (a reference to Sanders’ earlier remarks) but because he believed she was prepared to take on the challenges of leading the Department of Education. He pointed to her role in transforming WWE from a “regional company” into a global powerhouse as evidence of her leadership abilities. Scott sharply criticized the current education system, calling it a “quagmire pit of failure.”
Britt, a senator from Alabama, described McMahon as a “change agent” for education and highlighted her tenure as Chair of the America First Policy Institute—a think tank advancing Trump’s policy agenda. She also cited McMahon’s business success and her experience on the Connecticut Board of Education as qualifications for the role.
In his questioning round, Scott noted that race remains a significant issue in the country and asked if McMahon supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). McMahon said she does. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) also urged McMahon to support HBCUs, which McMahon again affirmed.
Senator Ashley Moody (R) jokingly asked McMahon if it was harder to stay composed in the hearing or around WWE wrestlers. McMahon said she could handle both, drawing laughter from the room.
The hearing concluded with Sanders entering 18 letters opposing McMahon’s confirmation into the record. Committee Chair Senator Bill Cassidy followed by adding into the record 25 letters supporting her confirmation. Neither senator detailed the contents of those letters or who they were written by.
Next, the committee will vote on whether to advance McMahon’s nomination for Secretary of Education. With a Republican majority, her approval in the committee is expected. If approved, the nomination will move to the full Senate for a final vote. McMahon will need at least 51 votes for confirmation. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, making her confirmation likely.
Video of the hearing is available from PBS and other outlets, as well as directly on the committee’s website.
