Opposition to the Nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education and urge you to thoroughly scrutinize her qualifications and policy positions during her confirmation hearing tomorrow. This hearing presents a critical opportunity for educators, parents, and students to understand Ms. McMahon’s record, her lack of experience in education, and her approach to implementing recent Executive Orders aimed at reducing the federal role in education. In particular, I urge you to question how her support for a federal voucher program could harm public schools, which serve 90% of students nationwide, including 95% of students with disabilities. Public schools are especially vital in rural communities where they serve as economic hubs. Additionally, I ask that you press Ms. McMahon on her stance regarding: • Limiting Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment plans, as well as imposing new taxes on scholarships, fellowships, and student loan debt, making higher education less affordable. • Policies that make it harder for victims of predatory institutions to discharge student loan debt. • Restricting eligibility for school meal programs, which could leave millions of students hungry or undernourished. • Reducing Medicaid/CHIP benefits for the 38 million children who rely on them, and how that would affect their ability to succeed in school. • Ensuring all students have a right to feel safe at school, particularly in light of policies targeting LGBTQ+ students and rescinding protections that previously safeguarded immigrant students. • Justifying drastic cuts to Title I, Title II, IDEA, and afterschool programs, which will lead to larger class sizes, reduced individual attention, and the loss of critical educational opportunities. These issues are of deep concern to me, and I urge you to demand clear and thorough responses from Ms. McMahon. Our students, teachers, and communities deserve a Secretary of Education who is qualified, committed to strengthening public education, and prioritizes the success of all students. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to holding this administration accountable. I appreciate your time and attention to this critical matter.