House Grills McMahon As Trump Plan Dismantles Education Department
Education Secretary Linda McMahon was grilled by the House education committee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, over the Trump administration's plan to dismantle and redistribute the Education Department's functions.[1]
McMahon told lawmakers that President Trump was elected with a mandate to "sunset" the Education Department.[1] Rep. Bobby Scott said the administration's approach is dismantling a core civil rights institution and demanded specifics on how protections will be preserved.[1] Lawmakers repeatedly pressed McMahon on how federal oversight of special education and other civil rights duties will be handled as programs shift.[1]
OPM records show the department's staff fell from roughly 4,200 in 2024 to about 2,300 in 2026. More than 100 programs have already been shifted to the Labor and Health and Human Services departments, and the federal student loan portfolio was moved to the Treasury Department.
Remaining Education Department employees are scheduled to leave the longtime headquarters for a smaller nearby office by August 2026, while the Office of Federal Student Aid is recruiting 334 staff after earlier cuts. Lawmakers warned that shifting functions across agencies could weaken enforcement of civil rights and special education protections unless clear plans and resources are put in place.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Education Secretary Linda McMahon testified before the House education committee on the Trump administration’s new education budget and restructuring plans.
- McMahon said President Trump was elected with a mandate to “sunset” the Education Department, while Rep. Bobby Scott warned the administration is dismantling a core civil rights institution.
- OPM data show department staff fell from roughly 4,200 in 2024 to 2,300 in 2026, with more than 100 programs shifted to Labor and HHS and federal student loans being moved to the Treasury Department.
- By August 2026, remaining Education Department employees are scheduled to leave the longtime headquarters for a smaller office nearby, as the Office of Federal Student Aid seeks to hire 334 new staff after earlier cuts.
- Federal oversight of special education remains within the department for now and was a focus of questioning, as lawmakers pressed McMahon on how those responsibilities will be handled.
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