On March 3, 2025, Linda McMahon was confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of Education. Her first order of business will be the downsizing and possible elimination of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). McMahon’s confirmation was on the same date that USDE workers were given an opportunity to accept a $25,000 separation agreement by a minute before midnight as per a February 28th written notice.

At a February 13th hearing, McMahon stated that there were possible ways to move programs from the USDE to other agencies. For example, education-related civil rights investigations could be housed at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could take responsibility for the delivery of IDEA services for disabled students. She also stated her aim to expand school choice and skills-based learning, give local schools and parents more decision-making power, and protect students from discrimination and harassment. For more from K-12 Dive, click here.