Secretary of Education

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the head of the U.S. Department of Education
Former U.S. Secretaries of Education Arne Duncan, John King, and Margaret Spellings discuss the future of the U.S. Department of Education.
From left, former education secretaries Margaret Spellings, John King, and Arne Duncan. The three former agency heads, who served during the Bush and Obama administrations respectively, discussed the future of the U.S. Department of Education during a Jan. 21, 2025, event hosted by the Brookings Institution.
Gerry Broome, Susan Walsh, Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Federal What 3 Former Education Secretaries Think of Their Old Department's Future
Though President Donald Trump’s first-term proposal to end the agency didn't materialize, he renewed the campaign promise last year.
Brooke Schultz, January 21, 2025
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6 min read
The U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, D.C., pictured on February 21, 2021.
The U.S. Department of Education, in Washington, D.C., pictured on Feb. 21, 2021.
Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images
Federal Trump Names Acting Education Secretary Ahead of Linda McMahon's Confirmation
Denise Carter will fill the role until President Donald Trump's pick, Linda McMahon, is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Brooke Schultz, January 20, 2025
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2 min read
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during “The Impact: Our Fight for Public Education” event at the Department of Education’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during “The Impact: Our Fight for Public Education” event at the Department of Education’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025. The event served as the capstone to Cardona's four years as education secretary under President Joe Biden.
Alyssa Schukar for Education Week
Federal As Biden Leaves Office, What Will His Education Legacy Be?
Biden's term was marked by unprecedented funding for schools, but no aggressive policy agenda. Did his administration do enough?
Brooke Schultz, January 15, 2025
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12 min read
Pop Art styled White House Illustration. Washington, DC.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty + Education Week
Federal Opinion How Educators Are Thinking About a Second Trump Administration
Opinions vary on what the president-elect’s proposed Cabinet picks will mean for K-12 education.
Mary Hendrie, January 14, 2025
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4 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Federal Opinion Betsy DeVos Has Advice for the Next Secretary of Education
In an interview, Trump's first education secretary shares hard-won lessons from her tenure.
Rick Hess, January 14, 2025
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10 min read
A group of students reacting to a spectacle inside a ring.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty Images
Federal Opinion 'Education Is Not Entertainment': What This Educator Wants Linda McMahon to Know
Her experience leading a pro wrestling organization could be both an asset and a liability
Robert Barnett, December 11, 2024
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4 min read
Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. McMahon, Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Education in his second term, has a long history of giving to education causes through her family foundation.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal Here's How Much Linda McMahon's Foundation Has Donated to Education Causes
The president-elect's pick for education secretary has long given to education causes through her family foundation.
Brooke Schultz, December 5, 2024
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5 min read
Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon attends a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington.
Linda McMahon attends a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington. McMahon, then head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Education Department in his new administration.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Federal What's in the Lawsuit That Alleges Linda McMahon Failed to Protect Children
The lawsuit filed by former World Wrestling Entertainment workers alleges a culture of acceptance of sexual misconduct.
Mark Walsh, December 2, 2024
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8 min read
112124 Linda McMahon AP BS
Federal Video Linda McMahon: 5 Things to Know About Trump's Choice for Education Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate former pro-wrestling CEO Linda McMahon to lead the education department.
Evie Blad & Lauren Santucci, November 21, 2024
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1 min read
Linda McMahon, former Administrator of Small Business Administration, speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Linda McMahon speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. McMahon has been selected by President-elect Trump to serve as as the next secretary of education.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal The K-12 World Reacts to Linda McMahon, Trump's Choice for Education Secretary
Some question her lack of experience in education, while supporters say her business background is a major asset.
Brooke Schultz, November 20, 2024
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7 min read
Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington on Oct. 3, 2018.
Linda McMahon speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington on Oct. 3, 2018, when she was serving as head of the Small Business Administration during President Trump's first administration. McMahon is now President-elect Trump's choice for U.S. secretary of education.
Susan Walsh/AP
Federal 5 Things to Know About Linda McMahon, Trump's Pick for Education Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump’s selection, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment has long spoken favorably about school choice.
Brooke Schultz, November 20, 2024
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7 min read
Small Business Administration Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019.
Then-SBA Administrator Linda McMahon speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Friday, March 29, 2019. Trump has tapped McMahon to serve as education secretary in his second term.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Federal Trump's Education Secretary Pick Is Linda McMahon, Former WWE CEO
McMahon led the Small Business Administration in Trump's first term and is co-chair of the president-elect's transition team.
Brooke Schultz, November 19, 2024
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6 min read
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, March 9, 2024, in Rome Ga.
Donald Trump, now president-elect, speaks at a campaign rally, March 9, 2024, in Rome, Ga. The education world is eager to find out who he will appoint to be U.S. secretary of education in his second term.
Mike Stewart/AP
Federal Trump's Potential Picks for Education Secretary: What to Know
Who could be tapped to lead an agency the president-elect has pledged to abolish?
Alyson Klein, November 12, 2024
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7 min read
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos speaks during a briefing at the Department of Education building in Washington on July 8, 2020.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos speaks during a briefing at the Department of Education building in Washington on July 8, 2020.
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
Federal Q&A Betsy DeVos' Advice for Trump's Next Education Secretary
DeVos is eager to see a second Trump administration finish what she helped start on school choice and rolling back the federal K-12 role.
Alyson Klein, November 7, 2024
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6 min read
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