Trump expected to pick Linda McMahon, former wrestling director, to lead the Department of Education, sources said

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pick Linda McMahon, the former wrestling director, to lead the Department of Education, two sources familiar with the transition told CBS News on Tuesday.

McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, resign in 2019 to help with his 2020 re-election campaign.

She is also currently co-chairing Trump’s transition team along with Howard Lutnickhead of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald. Trump announced this on Tuesday he chose Lutnick to be his commercial secretary.

McMahon and her husband, wrestling entertainment magnate Vince McMahon – who co-founded WWE and led it for decades before leaves the company in January following allegations of sexual assault – have been friends with Trump for over 20 years and is among his most prolific donors.

During his presidential run in 2024 campaignTrump promised to shut down Department of Education, complaining that the agency’s budget is too large and that its staff is filled with “people who, in many cases, hate our children.”

One of the smallest federal agencies, the Department of Education is responsible for the distribution of federal financial support for education, collection and dissemination of data and research related to schools and prohibition of discrimination in schools.

Its funds account for less than 10% of the nation’s public school funding, which is primarily driven by state and local taxes.

Graham Kates contributed to this report.