Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, has cleared the final procedural step in the confirmation process and will now face a final vote in the Senate.
On Thursday afternoon, the chamber approved a cloture vote, moving McMahon’s nomination forward to a final floor vote on her confirmation.
Voting was passed with a 51-47 tally.
McMahon was appointed by Trump to be the head of the Education Department, which Trump has stated he would like to “close immediately.”
Trump also stated that he wants McMahon “to put herself out of work.”
The day before McMahon’s confirmation hearing, the president criticized the education system, calling it a big con job.’ He pointed to global rankings, stating, ‘We’re ranked No. 40 in the world, yet we spend more per student than any other country. We’re No. 1 in cost per pupil, but still ranked No. 40.’
McMahon gave testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), in February, focusing on her comments that, “Education is an issue that determines our success as a nation and prepares American Workers to Win the Future,” according to a first-hand excerpt from her Opening Remarks.
Protesters and discussions about the inclusion of men of biological age in sports for women were part of the confirmation hearing. Also, the Department of Government Efficiency DOGE was scrutinized over the recent proposed spending cuts by Elon Musk’s newly created cost-cutting agency.
McMahon founded WWE along with her husband, Vince McMahon. She then served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration until 2019. In 2019, she left to “return to the private sector”.