U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and University Leaders Participate in Higher Education Roundtable at the White House
November 19, 2025
Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent participated in a roundtable discussion with university leaders, think tank professionals, and education advocates about the need for bold reforms to restore public confidence in higher education. The roundtable, entitled “Administrative Bloat and Low-Value Programs: How U.S. Universities are Failing American Families and How They Can Reform,” was hosted at the White House and included dozens of additional stakeholders.
Secretary McMahon and Under Secretary Kent highlighted the challenges students and families face under America’s outdated higher education system. They also discussed key provisions of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which will reduce costs in higher education and increase accountability, including the creation of Workforce Pell Grants, reforms to student loan repayment, new borrowing caps on federal lending, and other measures designed to improve the return on investment of a college degree.
