Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor to oppose President Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education, underscoring the enormous threat the Trump Administration poses to education for millions of students in California and across the country. President Trump has repeatedly stated he wants to eliminate the Department of Education — which would irreparably harm the education of the 80 percent of students who attend public schools.

Padilla called out McMahon for her startling lack of qualifications to lead the Department of Education.

• “We can talk about Linda McMahon’s qualifications — or frankly, lack thereof. But I’m not shocked, because President Trump isn’t looking for someone with the background or the commitment to strengthen education in America. He’s looking for someone to destroy it. President Trump has said publicly that he wishes that Ms. McMahon would ‘put herself out of a job.’ And it’s clear that she’s ready to do it.”

Padilla also emphasized the crucial role the Department of Education plays in promoting equal access to education, issuing protections and support for students with special needs, defending the civil rights of tens of millions of students, and managing the student loans and Pell grants that students need to afford an education.

• “Linda McMahon and Republicans in Congress will try to sell us on the idea that education should be left to states and to local communities. … Now while it’s true that state and local communities play the primary role in education, it’s actually the federal government that helps close the gaps.

• “That’s part of what makes our country strong: the idea that no matter where you live, no matter who your parents are, or what tax bracket your family is in, you have the right to a good education. Because after all, it’s the surest path to achieving your American Dream.”

A “proud product of public education,” Senator Padilla highlighted his own background graduating from San Fernando High School and using Pell grants to help pay for college. He emphasized the opportunities the public school system afforded him, and urged his Republican colleagues to vote against McMahon to protect the right to education for millions of students.

• “I find it outrageous that Ms. McMahon and Republicans can so callously plan to take a chainsaw to the American Dreams of so many current and future students. But today, we’re here to say that tens of millions of public school students are not line items on your chopping block.

• “They deserve better. Our country is better than this. And I urge all my colleagues to reject President Trump’s attempts to abolish the Department of Education and to reject Linda McMahon’s nomination or any nominee who’s willing to carry out his wishes.”

Video of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.

Footage of his remarks can be downloaded here. Earlier this month, Senator Padilla joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and his Senate colleagues in launching a probe into recent reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has infiltrated the Department of Education and gained access to federal student loan data, which includes millions of borrowers’ personal information. A federal court has since blocked DOGE’s access to this sensitive information, but the Senators sent a follow-up letter earlier today raising concerns about the Department of Education’s “woefully inadequate,” “misleading” response to their inquiry.

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