President-elect Donald Trump has selected his transition team co-chairs, Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, to lead the Departments of Education and Commerce, respectively.
President Trump’s transition team’s leadership by McMahon and Lutnick has presented a stark contrast to when former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was at the helm during Trump’s first term.
McMahon was Trump’s Small Business Administration administrator during his first term in office while Lutnick is the Chief Executive Officer of billionaire financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
Lutnick had been reportedly considered to lead the Treasury department, which is now projected to be led by Scott Bessent, another Wall Street executive.
A full list of Trump’s cabinet choices can be found here.
In his secretary of commerce role, Lutnick will administer the US’ foreign trade policy and ensure American companies remain globally competitive, which Trump has promised to achieve through tariffs.
“Thank you, President Trump for your trust in me to help Make America Great Again,” said Lutnick. “As the next Secretary of Commerce, I will join the best administration the US has ever seen and unleash our full economic potential.”
Conversely, McMahon had been expected to lead the commerce department, making her appointment to direct the Education department a surprise move.
Trump has previously pledged to eliminate the Education department, making McMahon’s longevity in the position uncertain.
Trump’s campaign explained via press release that, “in connection with totally refocusing schools on succeeding in the world of work, President Trump pledges to close the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. and to send all education work and needs back to the States.”
The Department of Education, established in 1979, was intended to “support and complement” the educational efforts of the states, whose authority over education is enshrined in the Constitution’s tenth amendment.
Many conservatives, however, have criticized the Department of Education for manipulating students and schools to channel progressive ideology.
“We’re going to end education coming out of Washington D.C., we’re going to close it up, all those buildings all over the place and with people who many times hate our children, we’re going to send it all back to the states,” concluded Trump.
