McMahon, a major donor and fundraiser for President-elect Donald Trump’s campaigns, is currently a co-chair of his transition team.
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 19 that he is nominating billionaire Linda McMahon to be his Education Secretary.
“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,” Trump said in a statement.
Trump has pledged to dismantle the Department of Education, though that would require an act of Congress. He has also said the issue of education would be left to the individual states to decide. The department has 4,400 employees.
If confirmed by the Senate, McMahon, 76, would be the fourth female to head the Department of Education.
Below are five things to know about her.
Served in First Trump Administration
McMahon was the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from February 2017 to April 2019 after her nomination by Trump was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 81–19. The SBA, which has more than 2,800 employees, helps small businesses by providing financing, including loans.
During her tenure, McMahon led the SBA in providing assistance to small businesses after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
McMahon subsequently was chair of America First Action SuperPAC and America First Policy, LLC., which played major roles in Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign.
Co-Founded WWE
McMahon and her husband, Vince McMahon, founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 1980. Originally called Titan Sports Inc., it is the largest wrestling league in the world. She served as the organization’s CEO.
Before they started WWE, the McMahons faced hardship.
“Our house was auctioned off. My car was repossessed in the driveway. I was pregnant with our second child,” Linda McMahon said at the National Press Club in 2018.
Ran for Senate
McMahon ran for the Senate in 2010 and 2012, both times without success.
In 2010, she was defeated by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), 55.19 percent to 43.24 percent.
Two years later, she lost to Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), 54.82 percent to 43.07 percent.
