President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, to serve as Secretary of Education in his incoming administration.

McMahon, who previously served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2019, would lead the department that Trump has repeatedly pledged to eliminate. The president-elect has long advocated for abolishing the federal education agency, arguing that education policy should be returned to state and local control.

Prior to her government service, McMahon spent decades in the professional wrestling industry, helping to build WWE into a major entertainment corporation alongside her husband Vince McMahon. She stepped down from her role as WWE CEO in 2009 to pursue political activities, including unsuccessful Senate campaigns in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012.

The nomination requires Senate confirmation. If confirmed, McMahon would oversee an agency with approximately 4,000 employees and a budget of roughly $80 billion that administers federal education programs, student aid, and civil rights enforcement in schools.

Trump's selection of McMahon signals his continued commitment to reducing federal involvement in education policy, a key campaign promise that resonates with his political base but faces significant legislative and practical obstacles.