AAUW Strongly Opposes Linda McMahon’s Nomination for U.S. Secretary of Education

McMahon Is an Unqualified Nominee Who Puts Students’ Rights at Risk

Washington, D.C. – Today’s confirmation hearing for Linda McMahon solidifies AAUW’s belief that she is unsuitable for the position of U.S. Secretary of Education. The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for upholding civil rights and ensuring equal educational opportunities.

“The Secretary of Education should be focused on strengthening civil rights protections, not undermining them,” said Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of AAUW. “McMahon’s support for private school vouchers would strip critical federal funding from public schools, her failure to commit to the SAVE student loan repayment plan threatens to saddle millions of borrowers with a lifetime of debt, and her disregard for the vital work of the Office for Civil Rights puts the safety and well-being of student survivors of gender-based harassment, discrimination, and violence at risk.”

High-quality education is the foundation of a democratic society and the key to economic prosperity, college and career readiness, and gender equality. The U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring opportunity for all through enforcement of federal civil rights laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The Department also plays a critical role in expanding access to higher education through college affordability programs and federal financial aid programs to make college more affordable, especially for low-income students and women of color, who are disproportionately saddled with higher amounts of student loan debt.

“America is at an inflection point,” continues Blackwell. “AAUW calls on the Senate to reject McMahon’s nomination and demand a leader who will uphold the mission of the Department of Education: to expand opportunity, protect civil rights, and invest in students’ success. Anything less would be a betrayal of our nation’s commitment to educational equity and opportunity for all.”

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AAUW (American Association of University Women) is the nation’s leading organization for equity in higher education and women’s economic empowerment.

Founded in 1881 by women who defied society’s conventions by earning college degrees, AAUW has since worked to increase women’s access, opportunity, and equity in higher education through advocacy and philanthropy of more than $146 million, supporting thousands of women scholars. Learn more at aauw.org.