Senators Question McMahon at Confirmation Hearing
Jessica Blake and Katherine Knott
February 13, 2025
The Senate held a confirmation hearing for Trump’s pick to lead the Education Department. Read more below for updates.
McMahon Weathers Hearing
Trump’s pick to lead the Education Department spoke for more than two hours Thursday, detailing her vision for education policy and defending plans to shut down the department. She remained composed throughout the hearing and seemed to largely avoid any big gaffes.
She faced a number of questions about whether she would comply with federal law and appropriate funds as Congress orders. McMahon said she would follow the law but argued that the department has a role in making sure that the programs funded are effective. She also made clear the goal isn’t to defund programs—a claim that Democrats scoffed at because Trump has said he wants to reduce federal spending and through the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, has already cut contracts.
The hearing offered little insight into McMahon’s plans for higher education, though. She wants to expand the Pell Grant to short-term workforce training programs and crack down on campus antisemitism. But she didn’t provide details about what those efforts would look like.
