Amy Lloyd, CEO of the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed), expressed her concerns regarding Linda McMahon's nomination as U.S. Secretary of Education. Although All4Ed opposed McMahon's nomination, Lloyd said that she hopes McMahon will be "accountable" in supporting public education funding and "critical programs" such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Lloyd made these remarks in a statement released on March 3.
"While All4Ed opposed her nomination on the basis of the Trump Administration's concerning policy agenda for public education, we now urge Congress and our nation to hold Ms. McMahon accountable to the commitments she made to support public education during her committee hearing—such as maintaining education funding, protecting critical programs such as Title I and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), supporting advancements in career pathways and workforce efforts, and ensuring our schools offer mental health supports to our nation's children," said Lloyd, CEO of All4Ed.
Following her confirmation on March 3, McMahon addressed the staff at the Department of Education, outlining her vision for transforming the agency. According to The Hill, she emphasized President Trump's objective of reducing the department's size and transferring educational oversight to state authorities. McMahon called for a "new era of accountability," pledging to cut "unnecessary bureaucracy" and provide more autonomy for local communities, teachers, and parents.
In a statement released on February 13, All4Ed opposed McMahon's nomination, stating: "She says she is going to put education back in the hands of states and communities, but the truth is that they already have that power. Federal law prohibits the U.S. Department of Education from mandating curricula, standards, and more; instead, our states, school districts, and schools decide what gets taught in our classrooms. McMahon’s policy agenda will simply give them fewer resources to use the power they already have."
Lloyd reiterated her hope that McMahon would support protecting "critical programs" like Title I and IDEA while also supporting career pathways and ensuring schools provide mental health support for children. She cautioned against efforts by the Trump Administration to dismantle the Department of Education, which could jeopardize essential resources and protections for vulnerable student groups.
According to Lloyd's statement, a November poll found that 58% of voters oppose shutting down the Department of Education—a proposal suggested by the Trump administration—and 68% support increasing federal funding for public schools.
All4Ed is a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on advancing equity and excellence in education, particularly for underserved students. The organization works to influence policy and public opinion to improve educational opportunities for all students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and those with disabilities.
