Trump's Education Secretary Doesn't Know What IDEA Is and Special Needs Parents Are Outraged

Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared on Fox News Tuesday evening, where her inability to define the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) worsened anxieties surrounding the future of public education under her leadership.

During an interview on The Ingraham Angle, McMahon was asked what IDEA stands for, after she herself brought it up.

"Well, do you know what? I'm not sure I can tell you exactly what it stands for," McMahon admitted, before vaguely describing it as "the programs for disabled, uh, and needs."

"Individuals with Disabilities Act, I think," host Laura Ingraham offered. "I'm guessing. I don't know. I don't know all my acronyms...You should tell them to me."

"This is my fifth day on the job," McMahon retorted.

Her inability to name one of the most significant federal protections for special education students sparked outrage among parents, educators, and disability advocates.

"Fifth day on the job that *qualified* candidates would normally work their whole careers for," read one comment on the clip.

McMahon, nominated for Secretary of Education by Trump, formerly worked as an executive at the WWE, a multi-billion-dollar business she shares with her husband, Vince McMahon. In 2009 she stepped down from her role within WWE and was appointed to the Connecticut Board of Education—her first and only experience in the field—where she served roughly a year before resigning.

In response to the Fox News clip, many teachers emphasized that IDEA is a key part of introductory curriculum for educators. "We make sure that college freshmen understand what IDEA is before even getting close to a classroom," an educator said. "IDEA is on teacher certification tests," wrote another. "So if we have to know what that is, how in the hell is it okay that the top dog doesn't know what it stands for?!?!"

Others clarified that even referring to IDEA as a "program" demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding. "It's a federal civil rights law 🤦🏻‍♀️ not a f*cking 'program,'" an exasperated viewer wrote.

"As a mom with several kids with IEP's and disabilities, this ENRAGES ME," said a parent. "I am a SPED teacher and watching this makes my brain and heart hurt," added a special education teacher.

The misstep comes as the Trump administration moves forward with deep staff cuts at the Department of Education, a major step in the president's long-standing push to dismantle the agency.

McMahon confirmed that nearly half of the department's workforce—around 2,000 employees—will be laid off starting March 21, calling it an effort to eliminate "bureaucratic bloat." She insisted that crucial programs, including student loans and federal education grants, would remain intact.

"We're not taking away education," McMahon said. "We're taking the bureaucracy out of education so that more money flows to the states."

Critics found little comfort in McMahon's assurance, with her failure to recognize IDEA seen as a red flag, especially among parents and educators focused on children with special needs.