Statement on the Confirmation Hearing of Linda McMahon

Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO, National Center for Learning Disabilities

WASHINGTON, DC —February 14, 2025—The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has grave concerns about the commitment of U.S. Secretary of Education nominee, Linda McMahon, to uphold federal civil rights law. NCLD urges the U.S. Senate to resolve these concerns by requesting a public statement from Mrs. McMahon clarifying her position before voting on her nomination.

On behalf of the 2.3 million students with specific learning disabilities who receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and their families, I listened closely to this confirmation hearing, eager to hear her commitment to serving students with disabilities and upholding the law.  

Instead, what we heard was a nominee who lacked familiarity with IDEA, the 50-year civil rights law that has provided students with disabilities the right to a public education, as well as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), our nation’s K-12 federal education law, and complicity with President Trump’s insistence to dismantle and shutter the U.S. Department of Education. What’s most unfortunate about Mrs. McMahon’s confirmation hearing is that parents of children with disabilities are left to wonder if their child’s right to a free, appropriate public education is in doubt with proposals to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.

In responses to questions such as those from Sen. Murray about ESSA and Sen. Kaine, Sen. Hassan, and Sen. Blunt Rochester about IDEA, she demonstrated a troubling lack of understanding necessary to effectively lead in this role. When Sen. Hassan inquired about the federal funding commitment, Mrs. McMahon was unable to identify that Congress pledged to fully fund IDEA at 40% of the additional costs of educating students with disabilities. Sen. Blunt Rochester asked Mrs. McMahon about her position on private schools serving students with disabilities. At a time when Congress is also contemplating passing a national school voucher program like the Educational Choice for Children Act and a recent Executive Order directs the Secretary of Education to make private school choice a priority, it is deeply concerning that Mrs. McMahon stated that private schools are not taking federal dollars and therefore do not have to accept students with disabilities. She posed the question if federal funds were to be provided in private schools, given the President’s priority to move forward with a national school voucher program, would Mrs. McMahon uphold the IDEA requirements that students with disabilities be served in those private schools? The nominee evaded answering the question, a strong concern at a time when Congress is also contemplating passing a national voucher program like the Educational Choice for Children Act. NCLD agrees with Sen. Murkowski, public funds belong in public schools. Students with disabilities and their families cannot afford to have a Secretary of Education who questions their fundamental civil rights and publicly ponders whether oversight of their legal protections under IDEA is necessary. 

Will Mrs. McMahon permit states and school districts to decide when and if to follow IDEA, an alarming and consequential prospect given the fact that IDEA impacts the daily lives of more than 7.5 million families? Will Mrs. McMahon support or tolerate efforts to undermine IDEA and, in doing so, relegate students with disabilities to a second-class education, rolling back half a century of progress? I sincerely hope not, but her testimony to date leaves more questions than answers.

Families of students with disabilities, including those with learning disabilities, need to hear that a Secretary of Education is committed to honoring the history, vision, and full funding commitment of IDEA and boldly enforcing the law. NCLD is prepared to collaborate with Mrs. McMahon, offering critical insights and firsthand perspectives from families, self-advocates, and experts to support the full implementation of IDEA. Ensuring proper oversight of this law requires expertise and accountability that lies within the U.S. Department of Education. Thus, NCLD opposes  moving responsibility of implementing IDEA to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

NCLD urges the Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee and the full Senate to require Mrs. McMahon’s much-needed public clarification before voting to approve her for such an important leadership position. 

Take action
Students with disabilities deserve a strong Department of Education with robust programs and funding that ensures they have access to the tools they need to succeed. We need your voice to ensure Congress understands how critical it is to protect USED and its programs, including IDEA. 

Take Action Here to contact your Members of Congress.