LIVE UPDATES: Senate committee holds hearing on Linda McMahon's nomination for Secretary of Education

Linda McMahon was nominated by President Trump to be the Secretary of Education.

Credit: U.S. Senate

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions is set to hold a hearing on the nomination of Linda McMahon for the Secretary of Education.

Follow below for live updates:


12:31 p.m.: The hearing has ended.


11:57 a.m.: McMahon said that biological men shouldn’t be allowed to compete in women’s sports.


11:46 a.m.: McMahon said that while there needs to be First Amendment protections on college campuses for discourse, it can’t descend into violence.

”When you become involved in activities that are actually endangering the students around campus, then that is not what should happen, and those schools that accept federal funding that allow that to happen should face a defunding,” she said.


11:34 a.m.: McMahon told Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) that universities that don’t take action against anti-Semitism “face defunding.”

McMahon agreed with Hawley that visas for students who commit anti-Semitic violence will be revoked.


10:50 a.m.: A protester has disrupted McMahon’s nomination hearing, briefly pausing questioning by Senators.

”Protect our schools! No more vouchers. No more charters,” the individual screamed.


10:48 a.m.: Linda McMahon said she’d like to see an “expansion” of Pell Grants and said she’d like to see the program expand to skill-based schools.

McMahon said any Pell Grant system changes would need Congressional approval. 


10:37 a.m.: Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon said it’s not President Trump’s goal to “defund” the Department of Education.


10:34 a.m.: Secretary of Education Nominee Linda McMahon told Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) that she will not tolerate anti-Semitism in education.

”What we saw happening on our campuses was absolutely deplorable,” McMahon said. “We cannot allow violence happening on campuses.”

McMahon added that she will make sure college presidents take steps to prevent anti-Semitism and respond appropriately.