Under Secretary Linda McMahon, the Education Department is shrinking staff while quickly steering funds and policy toward non‑district options: a $500 million charter funding stream, explicit pushes to use federal aid at private providers, and new 'patriotic education' grants distributed via conservative partners. Simultaneously, it is pressuring districts over DEI and gender policies, signaling federal preference away from traditional public schools.
— It shows how executive staffing and grant design can rewire a 200‑year public institution toward private and ideological options without passing new laws.
Nadia Sussman
2026.01.09
90% relevant
The article documents Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s explicit agenda to 'empower states' by channeling federal dollars toward private/charter/religious options, installing advisers from ultraconservative groups, and weakening the Department’s public‑school role — the exact phenomenon captured by the existing idea about DOE‑driven K‑12 privatization.
by Megan O’Matz and Jennifer Smith Richards
2025.10.10
90% relevant
The article reports Secretary Linda McMahon’s Department of Education advancing school choice, encouraging districts to use federal funds for private services, and backing a new national voucher tax credit—directly aligning with the thesis that DOE is steering policy and money away from district schools toward private options.
by Megan O’Matz and Jennifer Smith Richards
2025.10.08
100% relevant
The article cites a $500 million charter funding tap, guidance to route Title I–style funds to private schools/businesses, and a DOE coalition with Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and PragerU to disseminate 'patriotic' curricula.