Linda McMahon defends dismantling the Education Department, shifting its work
Source: NPR
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday on a visit to Capitol Hill to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal.
The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key education issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, what role the government should play in trying to improve abysmal literacy rates among U.S. students — and whether the U.S. Department of Education should exist at all.
[...]
Starting with their opening statements, McMahon and the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, made clear the hearing wasn't just about the U.S. Department of Education's budget for the next fiscal year; it was an existential fight over the department itself.
[...]
According to internal Education Department documents obtained by NPR, the department's student loan office, which was cut in half by last year's reduction-in-force, is now in the middle of a hiring spree.
The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is trying to bring in 334 new staff – a tacit acknowledgement that the previous cuts did serious harm to the office's ability to do its work.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/14/nx-s1-5815213/education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-house-hearing
And the rehiring spree right there shows the folly of "goVerNmEnT eFfIcieNcY". The executive branch cannot unilaterally change the authorities of cabinet agencies - that's the responsibility of Congress.