‘Final Mission’ for Education Dept. Begins Now, McMahon Says

Linda McMahon’s first directive as Secretary of Education was to instruct her team to begin preparations for the department’s “final mission,” marking her clearest signal yet of her intent to carry out President Trump’s vision of shutting it down.

Shortly after being sworn in on Monday, McMahon sent an email to department staff, delivering yet another shock to federal employees, educators, and school administrators already bracing for sweeping changes to the nation’s education system.

In her message, McMahon described an impending “disruption” to education that would have a “profound impact.” She acknowledged that the road ahead would be “daunting.”

“This is our chance to deliver one final, lasting public service for future generations of students,” she wrote.

“I hope you will stand with me so that when our mission is complete,” she continued, “we can all take pride in leaving American education freer, stronger, and filled with greater hope for the future.”

President Trump has been outspoken about his desire to eliminate the Department of Education altogether. Just last month, he suggested McMahon’s ultimate goal should be to eliminate her own position.

“The Education Department is a big con job,” Trump told reporters. “I’d like to shut it down immediately.” However, since the department was established by law, dissolving it would require congressional approval.

Until Monday night, McMahon had taken a more measured approach in her public statements. During her confirmation hearing, she laid out an ambitious vision for the future of education, emphasizing the expansion of vocational training in high schools, greater school choice, and efforts to protect families from overwhelming college debt.

On Monday evening, McMahon watched the Senate vote confirming her appointment from her new office at the Education Department, accompanied by key staff and advisors. The vote was finalized at 6:28 p.m., and soon after, Jacqueline Clay, the department’s chief human capital officer, administered her oath of office. By 9:29 p.m., McMahon had sent an email to the department’s approximately 4,200 employees, with the subject line: “Our Department’s Final Mission.”

In the email, she outlined her objectives in stark terms.

Restoring “patriotic education and classes” was among her top priorities, she wrote. She also pledged to reestablish the “proper role of state oversight in education,” a shift she acknowledged would bring major changes to the department’s workforce, budget, and operations.

“We must begin viewing our final mission as a complete transformation—a last opportunity to revive the culture of liberty and excellence that once defined American education,” she wrote.

Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, voiced concerns that the Trump administration’s agenda could roll back protections for students with disabilities and those from underprivileged communities.

“America is about progress,” Pringle stated. “We recognize that our nation is still a work in progress, and my real fear is that we are moving backward—to an era where certain students were left behind and denied the services they need.”

McMahon also characterized the Education Department as a failed experiment, pointing out that it had spent over $1 trillion since its establishment in 1980. However, she did not elaborate on how shifting power to state and local districts—whose cumulative education spending far exceeds that of the federal agency—would benefit students.

Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed that McMahon would lead a “historic overhaul” of the agency, aligning with Trump’s broader objectives.

“The president made his vision for the department very clear, and Secretary McMahon reaffirmed in her confirmation hearing that she is committed to implementing his agenda,” Biedermann stated.

Within the department, some officials, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation, interpreted McMahon’s email as an attempt to diminish morale within an agency already unsettled by the administration’s aggressive reforms. These officials suspected the message was an implicit nudge for employees to resign or retire early.

During Trump’s first weeks in office, nearly all federal employees were offered a voluntary resignation package. On Friday, the department extended a similar offer, with the proposal set to expire on Monday. Employees with at least 20 years of service and aged 50 or older have until March 25 to apply for an early retirement package.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, pointed out that portions of McMahon’s email appeared to contradict her statements during the confirmation process.

During her Senate hearing, McMahon advocated for expanded vocational training in high schools so that graduates could be equipped with the skills to “start a business of their own.” However, in her email, she emphasized that “postsecondary education should lead to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs.”

“They’re still figuring out what they can and can’t do,” Weingarten said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they attempt to dismantle the department piece by piece. But if they make things worse, it’ll be on their watch—because parents across the country want better protections for their children, not funding cuts.”

Weingarten spoke by phone while traveling from Albany, N.Y., to New Haven, Conn., to attend events marking a “day of action” organized by the teachers’ union. Despite having less than three weeks to prepare, the initiative mobilized around 2,000 rallies, marches, and other local demonstrations on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to defend public education.

She also pointed to recent public opinion surveys showing widespread opposition to closing the Education Department. A poll conducted by NPR/PBS/Marist and released Tuesday found that 63 percent of respondents were against dismantling the agency.