NJEA leaders have expressed strong disapproval following the confirmation of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education. NJEA President Sean Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson issued a joint statement criticizing the decision.
"The Senate’s vote to confirm Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education proves what we’ve seen over and over in the last few weeks: no nominee is too unserious or unqualified to serve in the Trump administration," they stated.
They further highlighted concerns about McMahon's qualifications, pointing out her background as "a billionaire professional wrestling executive and failed political candidate." They noted that she lacks relevant credentials for her new role and questioned her commitment to leading the Department of Education. "She has declared her support for the president’s plan to dismantle the department, which will be devastating to students and families across New Jersey and the United States who rely on public education as their ladder to the American Dream."
The NJEA officers also criticized McMahon's perceived priorities. "Her casual willingness to betray working class American families to serve a crass political agenda demonstrates why she should never have been nominated, much less confirmed to this position," they said. They argued that those senators who supported her confirmation "have betrayed every American public school family."
In conclusion, NJEA pledged continued advocacy for students and their families against policies they see as harmful. "As educators and advocates, we will always stand with our students and their families. We will fight the harmful Trump-McMahon agenda of funding cuts, privatization, and demonization of public education."
