STATEMENT: McMahon Confirmation Threatens Civil Rights Protections for Students

March 4. 2025

For Immediate Release
Mar 4, 2025

Media Contact
Nazirah Ahmad
[email protected]

Statement from Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates, on confirmation of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education 

March 3, 2025  – “Linda McMahon’s confirmation today is a grave threat to equal educational opportunities and civil rights protections for all students. By confirming a nominee with no relevant experience and a troubling record, the Senate has abdicated its responsibility to ensure competent leadership at the Department of Education.

Equal Rights Advocates (ERA), which has spent 50 years fighting for students’ right to learn in safety, strongly condemns the Senate’s decision to confirm McMahon despite her glaring lack of education experience, history of promoting discriminatory policies, and troubling allegations regarding her response to reported child sexual abuse during her time at WWE.

ERA had formally opposed McMahon’s nomination in a letter to the Senate HELP Committee, warning that under McMahon’s leadership, “the Department of Education will enable or even encourage institutions to push-out vulnerable students and punish those who do not or cannot conform to a narrowly prescribed view of gender, race, national origin, or religion.” We are particularly concerned about access to education for students of color, LGBTQI+ students, immigrant students, and those with disabilities. 

McMahon’s confirmation comes amid an alarming rollback of Title IX protections and other civil rights safeguards in education. We are deeply concerned that McMahon will accelerate these dangerous trends, undermining five decades of progress toward ensuring equal access to education for all students.

Equal Rights Advocates will continue to defend students’ rights through litigation, policy advocacy, and direct support, ensuring that attempts to dismantle crucial protections are met with fierce resistance.”

To request an interview with ERA experts, contact Blake Case at [email protected] or (601) 832-6079.