K-12 IMPLOSION UPDATE: How Linda McMahon could wrestle the teachers unions as Trump’s education chief.
President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of education secretary is on a collision course with the country’s teachers unions as Republicans eye major reforms that would put more power in the hands of charter and private schools.
The second Trump administration continued taking shape on Wednesday, with World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon chosen to lead the Department of Education. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be tasked with expanding access to voucher programs and reducing the role the department plays in local schooling.
McMahon is also in the slightly awkward position of heading an agency that Trump has vowed to abolish. She has a somewhat thin resume in education, though that could be a plus as Trump stacks his Cabinet with allies committed to disrupting the way the federal government operates.
“Like most Trump picks, as surprising as they seem, she clearly has an agenda to blow up business as usual,” said Dan Bowling, who teaches labor courses at Georgia State University’s law school. “Certainly, the teachers unions are going to be in the crosshairs of McMahon or anybody who negotiates with them on behalf of the Trump administration. I think we’ll see a lot more hard bargaining.”
At a minimum, I certainly hope so.