Trump Nominates McMahon, Oz for Key Administration Roles Amid Education Reform Efforts

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his nominations of Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO and current transition co-chair, as his nominee for education secretary. Additionally, celebrity doctor and former TV host Mehmet Oz has been chosen to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These picks follow a pattern of Trump nominating loyal supporters to top roles in his cabinet.

McMahon's background is rooted in the wrestling industry, having co-founded Titan Sports with her husband in 1980. The company later became the parent company of WWE. She resigned as CEO in 2009 but has since made appearances on Connecticut state's board of education and currently serves as the chair of the pro-Trump think tank America First Policy Institute. Trump claimed McMahon would "spearhead" his pledge to close the Education Department, which he has criticized for what Republicans describe as pushing "woke" ideology on children.

In contrast, Oz faces criticism for his approach to medicine. As a TV doctor and celebrity guest on various health-related shows, Oz's methods have sparked controversy in some circles. Trump announced Osman Oz is picked to lead Medicaid, marking another attempt at reforming America healthcare systems by top executives that will require Congressional approval once more. The announcement sets the stage for what promises to be a contentious confirmation process in the Senate, where both McMahon and Oz will need votes to secure their positions.

It remains to be seen how these nominations impact the broader context of Trump's education policies, particularly his push to close the Department of Education altogether.