L. McMahon: Shutdown shows US ED won't be missed
Does the existence of US federal oversight of education matter?
US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon argued in a post published by USA Today that centralized support and oversight of education is unneeded. Secretary McMahon contended that long-standing political opposition to federal education programs was vindicated by the continuing function of education during the multi-week “government shutdown” from October through November 2025.
Here is the lede from her article of 16 November 2025:
Our nation just experienced the longest government shutdown in its history. The 43-day shutdown, which came smack in the middle of the fall semester, showed every family how unnecessary the federal education bureaucracy is to their children’s education. Students kept going to class. Teachers continued to get paid. There were no disruptions in sports seasons or bus routes.
The shutdown proved an argument that conservatives have been making for 45 years: The U.S. Department of Education is mostly a pass-through for funds that are best managed by the states.
There is lots to like in Ms. Hanford’s report. And it appears that there are is more good stuff to come. I fret about the apparent endorsement of the current pop meme about “cognitive science,” but she is at least still telling not just compelling, but also important stories.
Here is a link to the full text of Secretary. McMahon’s opinion piece for 16 November 2025:
I invite readers to consider the ideas in the headline. Do events during the shutdown prove that federal engagement is unnecessary? Those who know logic better than I do should please weigh in with analyses. Do events under Condition B show that Condition A is unnecessary?
We may not know whether that headline was written by Secretary McMahon, but it is also relevant to review her full argument. Is it valid? Especially, is it relevant to our kids? Just for a moment: Because people did hot report that kids with disabilities were struggling (or failing!), does that mean special education was doing well?
We do know that Secretary McMahon explained why the held her view of success during the shutdown. The wrote, “Students kept going to class. Teachers continued to get paid. There were no disruptions in sports seasons or bus routes.” I’m a tad wary about the logic here.
If A ==> B
If students kept going to school during the government shutdown, then there’s no need for federal education efforts?
If teachers continue to get paid, then there is no need for federal education efforts?
If kids played sports and got bus rides, then there is not need for federal education efforts?
If A ==> 🤯
I want special education to do well. Please show me positive evidence that the current polices are causing good outcomes. Don’t just toss me some pony poop and expect me to be happy.