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  • Former SBA Administrator Linda McMahon Leads Controversial Cuts at Education Department under Trump's Second Term

    Former SBA Administrator Linda McMahon Leads Controversial Cuts at Education Department under Trump's Second Term
    2025/05/29
    Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration under Donald Trump's first presidency, is currently serving as Education Secretary in Trump's second administration. In this role, she has become the focal point of significant controversy surrounding proposed cuts to the Education Department.

    Just yesterday, on May 28, 2025, McMahon testified before a House subcommittee defending a substantial $12 billion reduction to the Education Department's budget, representing a 15.3% cut from the previous year. During her testimony, McMahon characterized the Education Department as merely a "pass-through mechanism" for federal funding, suggesting that other agencies could handle the distribution of congressional allocations.

    This budget reduction aligns with the Trump administration's broader agenda to diminish the Education Department's scope. McMahon framed these cuts as part of the department's "final mission," signaling the administration's intention to eventually wind down the agency completely. The only educational institutions slated for increased funding are charter schools, which will receive an additional $60 million under the proposed budget.

    Democratic lawmakers have strongly opposed these initiatives. Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the leading Democrat on the appropriations committee, criticized McMahon during the hearing, stating: "You will not have Congress's cooperation in your mission to dismantle the Department of Education. Not while we are here." DeLauro further accused McMahon of "recklessly crippling" the department and "undermining Congress's authority" by canceling grants worth hundreds of millions of dollars and cutting approximately half of the department's workforce.

    McMahon's approach to leading the Education Department appears to mirror strategies she employed during her tenure at the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. Former colleagues describe her management style as demanding with high expectations. Barb Carson, who worked closely with McMahon at the SBA, recalled how McMahon once slapped a table during a meeting, declaring, "There's going to be one conversation in this room and it's mine," immediately commanding everyone's attention.

    The SBA itself is currently undergoing significant changes. In March 2025, the agency announced plans for an agency-wide reorganization that will reduce its workforce by 43%. This restructuring aims to restore the agency to pre-pandemic staffing levels while refocusing on core missions such as capital formation, veteran support, and disaster relief.

    These parallel developments at both the Education Department and the SBA reflect the administration's broader strategy of reducing federal agencies and devolving more authority to states. As McMahon continues to implement controversial cuts at the Education Department, the full impact of these policies on American education and small businesses remains to be seen.
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    3 分
  • Former SBA Chief Linda McMahon Defends Massive Education Budget Cuts, Aligns with Trump's Agenda

    Former SBA Chief Linda McMahon Defends Massive Education Budget Cuts, Aligns with Trump's Agenda
    2025/05/27
    Linda McMahon, who previously served as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from February 2017 to April 2019, is currently making headlines as she defends a proposed $12 billion cut to the Education Department. During a recent budget hearing on May 21, 2025, McMahon stood firm on this significant reduction while some Republicans indicated support for dismantling the department altogether.

    McMahon's current prominence stems from her nomination by President Trump to lead the U.S. Education Department. Having previously led both World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the Small Business Administration, McMahon has expressed support for school choice and parental rights initiatives. During her confirmation process, she has aligned herself with Trump's vision to potentially dismantle the Education Department, stating directly, "It's not working."

    Her previous experience at the SBA offers insight into her leadership style. Former colleagues describe McMahon as setting high expectations from the beginning of her tenure. Barb Carson, who worked with McMahon at the SBA, recalls a memorable first meeting where McMahon commanded attention by slapping a table and declaring, "There's going to be one conversation in this room and it's mine." Despite her lack of prior government experience, McMahon was praised for her willingness to understand the public sector and make it more efficient.

    During her SBA leadership, McMahon visited 68 cities to hear directly from small business owners and supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Her tenure was marked by improvements to the SBA's emergency call centers following Hurricane Harvey and a revamped online presence. The Washington Post assessed her first year positively with a "so far, so good" evaluation.

    McMahon's approach to government reorganization may influence her current role. On March 21, 2025, the SBA announced an agency-wide reorganization that includes workforce reduction by 43%, focusing on eliminating what they termed a "social policy agenda" of the previous administration. The reorganization aims to return the agency to pre-pandemic staffing levels while maintaining core services like loan guarantees and disaster assistance.

    As McMahon continues her confirmation process for Education Secretary, her supporters highlight her ability to listen and learn from subject-matter experts as qualities that would serve her well in the new role. Meanwhile, she remains in the spotlight defending controversial budget cuts that align with the administration's vision for smaller federal education involvement.
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    3 分
  • Streamlining Efficiency: Linda McMahon's Transition from SBA to the Department of Education

    Streamlining Efficiency: Linda McMahon's Transition from SBA to the Department of Education
    2025/05/25
    Linda McMahon, who served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President Donald Trump, has recently re-entered the national spotlight due to her nomination and confirmation as Secretary of Education. Although her leadership of the SBA concluded in April 2019, her time overseeing the agency has drawn renewed attention as lawmakers and policy observers examine her approach to government and management style in light of her new role.

    During her tenure at the SBA, Linda McMahon was recognized for bringing high expectations and a results-oriented ethos shaped by her private-sector background. Colleagues recall that she set a clear tone of accountability and trust, making it apparent that she expected commitment and efficiency from her team. McMahon was praised for her willingness to listen to a wide range of stakeholders, including small business owners, agency employees, and subject-matter experts, to understand what worked and what required change. She spent her initial months engaging with the small business community and seeking feedback that would guide future improvements to agency operations.

    One notable achievement from her SBA leadership was the expansion of educational programming for women entrepreneurs. While the transition to digital platforms for these initiatives was ultimately completed under her successor, McMahon played a key role in setting the foundation for such modernization, facilitating greater access and reach for business education resources.

    McMahon also advocated for internal restructuring to improve government efficiency. She identified duplicative programs within the SBA and took steps to merge or streamline these operations. Facing a five percent budget cut and the prospect of further restructuring, she focused on maintaining core functions such as capital access, counseling, contracts, and disaster relief, all while finding ways to do more with less. Her leadership was especially tested during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, when she overseen improvements to the SBA's emergency response capabilities, notably hiring additional staff for call centers and enhancing the agency's digital presence.

    Following her resignation from the SBA in 2019, McMahon transitioned to a political advocacy role before emerging as a surprise nominee for Secretary of Education. The confirmation hearings have centered on her management experience at SBA, her willingness to take advice from experts, and her stance on public sector efficiency. President Trump’s administration has tasked her with a dramatic downsizing, and potentially the closure, of the Department of Education, a controversial move that echoes her previous efforts at reducing bureaucracy and eliminating redundancies.

    While McMahon did not work directly in the field of education prior to this appointment, her tenure at the SBA is cited by allies as evidence of her leadership skills and her ability to implement institutional change. She is now facing the challenge of balancing calls for efficiency and reform with ongoing needs for educational funding and access. Observers will watch closely to see how her approach—rooted in her small business administration experience—translates to the vast and complex landscape of federal education policy.
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    3 分
  • Headline: Education Secretary Linda McMahon Defends Proposed 15% Funding Cut for Department

    Headline: Education Secretary Linda McMahon Defends Proposed 15% Funding Cut for Department
    2025/05/22
    Linda McMahon, who currently serves as the U.S. Secretary of Education in the Trump administration, defended the president's proposed budget cuts to the Education Department during a House appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 21, 2025. McMahon appeared before lawmakers to discuss the administration's "skinny budget" for fiscal year 2026, which calls for a significant 15% reduction in the department's funding, from approximately $80 billion to $66.7 billion.

    During the hearing, McMahon offered few specifics on how the Department of Education would consolidate funding streams and implement the proposed cuts. However, she repeatedly assured lawmakers that essential education funding would remain intact, even as the administration works toward its goal of eventually closing the agency. The budget proposal includes plans to consolidate 18 unspecified funding streams into a single $2 billion block grant to states.

    The Education Department, already the smallest Cabinet-level department by staff size, has undergone significant changes since Trump took office in January 2025. Nearly half of the department's employees have left through buyouts and layoffs, and numerous contracts and grants have been terminated. The only area where the department proposes to increase funding is its charter schools grants program.

    McMahon's appearance at the House hearing comes as part of her broader defense of the administration's education policies. In early April, while speaking to education technology entrepreneurs, McMahon emphasized her desire to cut bureaucracy while maintaining key federal funding for schools, stating it was time to "do something different."

    The former wrestling executive and Small Business Administration leader has a limited background in education. She was confirmed as Education Secretary by the Senate in March 2025, becoming the nation's 13th secretary of education. Shortly after her confirmation, President Trump signed an executive order directing McMahon to prepare the 45-year-old agency for shutdown.

    McMahon is expected to testify before a Senate appropriations committee soon, where she will likely face additional questions about the administration's education budget and restructuring plans. Her transition from leading the Small Business Administration to heading the Education Department represents a significant shift in her career, as she works to implement the president's vision for reducing the federal government's role in education.
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    3 分
  • Linda McMahon's Evolving Role: From SBA to Department of Education

    Linda McMahon's Evolving Role: From SBA to Department of Education
    2025/05/15
    In recent days, Linda McMahon’s name has resurfaced in the national spotlight not for her entrepreneurial legacy or her tenure at the head of World Wrestling Entertainment, but because of her evolving role within the federal government. After leading the U.S. Small Business Administration during Donald Trump’s first term, McMahon has now transitioned to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Education, following a Senate confirmation on March 3, 2025.

    McMahon’s time at the Small Business Administration was characterized by her direct approach and high expectations. Colleagues recall her as a leader who set the tone immediately, demanding focus and accountability at every meeting. She arrived at the SBA with a private-sector mindset but devoted significant effort to understanding the agency’s distinctive challenges and the broader public mission it serves. Her first months in office were marked by extensive listening sessions with small business owners, employees, and advocates, which guided her in assessing and refining agency operations. This approach allowed her to identify what systems worked and where reforms were needed, an experience that would prove influential as she moved to her new post in the Department of Education.

    During her leadership at the SBA, McMahon also played a role in expanding educational opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly women. She supported the transition of brick-and-mortar training programs into online resources, aiming to increase accessibility and scale the agency’s educational outreach. Although her broader legacy often centers on business and entrepreneurship rather than formal education, this initiative highlights her ability to adapt and modernize federal programs in response to evolving needs.

    The current landscape at the SBA has continued to shift with the introduction of tighter guidelines in 2025, including stricter underwriting standards and new eligibility criteria for loan applicants. These changes reflect an ongoing emphasis on reinforcing the integrity of federally backed lending, ensuring resources are directed toward qualified small businesses. While these administrative updates have taken place since McMahon’s departure, they demonstrate the sustained impact of a results-driven ethos she helped instill at the agency.

    With her move to the Department of Education, McMahon faces a dramatically different kind of challenge. As the new secretary, she has pledged both to maintain critical funding for schools and to oversee a process that could ultimately result in the closure of the department, reflecting an executive order from President Trump. Despite the contentious nature of these reforms, McMahon has emphasized a commitment to reducing bureaucracy while preserving essential support for students and educators. Her supporters cite her willingness to listen to experts and stakeholders, believing these skills will translate to effective leadership in the nation’s education system.

    As the federal government navigates this period of transformation, McMahon’s trajectory from business mogul to public administrator continues to prompt both scrutiny and optimism regarding the future of small business support and educational policy in the United States.
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    3 分
  • Linda McMahon Shakes Up Education Landscape as Controversial Education Secretary

    Linda McMahon Shakes Up Education Landscape as Controversial Education Secretary
    2025/05/13
    Linda McMahon has been making headlines recently in her role as the U.S. Secretary of Education rather than as Administrator of the Small Business Administration, a position she held during former President Trump's first term from 2017 to 2019.

    McMahon was confirmed as Education Secretary on March 3, 2025, by a Senate vote of 51-45. Since then, she has been at the center of controversy regarding the future of the Department of Education. McMahon has publicly backed President Trump's push to dismantle the department, stating that "it's not working."

    Last week, on May 7, 2025, McMahon made waves with a scathing letter to Harvard University, calling the institution a "mockery" and threatening to cut off all federal grant funding. This move has drawn significant attention from education experts who have been analyzing the implications of her stance.

    McMahon's approach to leadership appears consistent with her previous tenure at the Small Business Administration, where she set high expectations. Former colleagues remember her commanding attention in meetings and establishing clear boundaries of trust with her team.

    While McMahon no longer leads the SBA, the agency recently announced a major reorganization on March 21, 2025, pursuant to Executive Order 14210. The restructuring plan will reduce the SBA workforce by 43%, eliminating what the agency described as "the expansive social policy agenda of the prior Administration" and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels.

    The SBA reorganization focuses on promoting business formation, prioritizing risk management and fraud prevention, expanding disaster response support, eliminating redundant pandemic-era positions, ensuring 30% of the agency is field-based, promoting veteran businesses and American manufacturing, and preserving accountability offices.

    McMahon's background includes significant private sector experience as a business mogul associated with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) before entering government service. During her SBA tenure from 2017 to 2019, she was noted for her willingness to learn from subject-matter experts and her efforts to expand educational opportunities for women entrepreneurs by helping take brick-and-mortar programs online.

    After leaving the SBA in April 2019, McMahon served as chairwoman of America First Action, a pro-Trump Super PAC, before being nominated to her current role as Education Secretary in November 2024.

    Her confirmation hearing for the Education Secretary position occurred on February 13, 2025, amid aggressive efforts from the Trump administration to shrink the Education Department's footprint, with dozens of employees placed on administrative leave and reports of an executive order being prepared to begin dismantling the 45-year-old agency.
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    3 分
  • Headline: Linda McMahon, Education Secretary, Clashes with Harvard in Aggressive Stance

    Headline: Linda McMahon, Education Secretary, Clashes with Harvard in Aggressive Stance
    2025/05/11
    Linda McMahon, the current Secretary of Education, has garnered significant attention in recent days with her strong stance against Harvard University. In a scathing letter, McMahon called Harvard a "mockery" and vowed to cut off all federal grant funding, showcasing her aggressive approach to educational institutions.

    McMahon's journey to her current position began when she was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Education on November 19, 2024. She was subsequently confirmed by the Senate on March 3, 2025, with a vote of 51-45. Prior to this role, McMahon served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 during Trump's first term.

    During her tenure at the SBA, McMahon was known for setting high expectations. Former colleagues recall her commanding presence, with one remembering how she "slapped the table and said, 'There's going to be one conversation in this room and it's mine,'" immediately establishing her authority. Despite coming from the private sector without federal government experience, McMahon was willing to invest time to understand the public sector's unique challenges.

    McMahon's leadership style at the SBA was characterized by a listening-first approach. She spent her first 90 days on the job engaging with small businesses, employees, and advocates to gain a comprehensive understanding of the agency's strengths and weaknesses. During her tenure, she expanded educational opportunities for women entrepreneurs by helping take brick-and-mortar programs online.

    In her current role as Education Secretary, McMahon has aligned herself with Trump's controversial plan to dismantle the Department of Education, stating that "it's not working." Her confirmation hearing in February 2025 occurred amid an aggressive effort by the Trump administration to shrink the Education Department's footprint, with dozens of employees placed on administrative leave.

    The SBA itself is currently undergoing significant changes, announcing a major reorganization on March 21, 2025. This restructuring will reduce the agency's workforce by 43%, eliminating what the current administration describes as "the expansive social policy agenda of the prior Administration" and returning to pre-pandemic staffing levels.

    McMahon's background includes leadership roles beyond government service. Before her time in public office, she was a business and wrestling executive, co-founding what would become World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) with her husband Vince McMahon. Her education experience includes serving on the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009 and as a trustee at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic institution in Connecticut.
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    3 分
  • The Administrator of the Small Business Administration what it is and does

    The Administrator of the Small Business Administration what it is and does
    2025/05/11
    **Podcast Episode Description: Insights into Linda McMahon's Leadership at the Small Business Administration and Her New Role in Education**

    Welcome to Episode 101 of "The Administrator of the Small Business Administration Podcast," hosted by Mortimer. Tune in as we explore the impactful tenure of Linda McMahon, the former Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and her recent transition to U.S. Secretary of Education.

    In this episode, we delve into the key aspects of McMahon’s leadership at the SBA from 2017 to 2019, where her entrepreneurial background played a pivotal role. Discover how her advocacy for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, expansion of educational resources for women entrepreneurs, and enhanced disaster response capabilities left a lasting imprint on America's small business landscape.

    Uncover the significant news as Linda McMahon steps into her new role in education, confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Education for President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. We explore how her focus on workforce development and practical education solutions promises to shape educational policy in the years to come.

    Learn about the ongoing legacy of the SBA, under the leadership of Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, and the agency’s efforts in COVID-19 recovery, equity initiatives, and modernizing processes for small business support across the United States.

    Join us as we reflect on McMahon's transition from business to education, the evolving role of the SBA Administrator, and the critical connection between small businesses and economic growth. Don’t miss this insightful discussion packed with leadership lessons and forward-looking perspectives on entrepreneurship and education.

    Subscribe to "The Administrator of the Small Business Administration Podcast" for more in-depth conversations on leadership, policy, and economic impact. Produced by Quiet Please Productions, visit quietplease.ai for more information.
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    17 分