Linda McMahon, the former WWE executive recently nominated as Education Secretary by President-elect Donald Trump,

once directed nearly $1 million to a conservative advocacy group tied to Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation initiative advocating for sweeping government reforms, including the elimination of the Department of Education.

In 2020, while McMahon served as chair of America First Works, the organization donated $994,000 to Heritage Action for America, according to IRS documents hosted by the Center for Public Integrity. Heritage Action serves as the sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025.

Project 2025’s Ambitious Goals

Project 2025 outlines an ultra-conservative vision for reshaping the federal government. Among its proposals is a plan to combat “woke propaganda” in schools by dismantling the Department of Education.

“Federal education should be limited, and, ultimately, the Federal Department of Education should be eliminated,” the initiative states.

The Department of Education administers crucial programs, including Title I, which supports children from low-income families, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which funds education for students with disabilities. Eliminating the department could disrupt these programs and the federal student loan system.

While Project 2025 has gained recent attention, the Heritage Foundation has long opposed the Department of Education. As early as 2010, the foundation advocated for reducing its scope in its Index of Dependence reports. By 2020, a Heritage report argued the department had outlived its purpose and should be “devolved.”

America First Works’ Role

America First Works, the advocacy arm of America First Policies, pushes policies aligned with Trump’s agenda, including “reining in government excess” and “promoting traditional education.” During McMahon’s tenure as chair, the group made significant contributions to conservative organizations, including:

  • $100,000 to Moms for America, whose president, Kim Fletcher, was interviewed by the January 6 Select Committee.
  • $25,000 to Women for America First, which organized the “Stop the Steal” rally ahead of the January 6 Capitol attack.
  • $350,000 to the BLEXIT Foundation, founded by Candace Owens to encourage African Americans to leave the Democratic Party.

In 2022, America First Works reported $2.2 million in revenue. As a “dark money” group, it can fund campaigns without disclosing donor identities.

Conservative Reactions to McMahon’s Nomination

McMahon’s lack of experience in education policy has raised eyebrows among conservatives, though her longstanding loyalty to Trump appears to have secured her nomination. She previously served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration in his administration.

Her connections to Project 2025, however indirect, add complexity to her nomination. Trump’s staffing choices increasingly reflect alignment with the initiative’s agenda, making its once-ambitious goals seem more achievable.

Heritage Action’s Advocacy

Heritage Action, founded in 2010, leverages research from the Heritage Foundation to advance conservative policies. The organization has been vocal about banning critical race theory in schools and has provided resources for opposing Department of Education policies on topics like transgender participation in school sports.

The group typically shields its donors’ identities but disclosed a $500,000 contribution from the Koch Brothers in 2013.

Looking Ahead

McMahon’s ties to America First Works and its contributions to Heritage Action have drawn scrutiny as her nomination moves forward. Critics warn that the goals of Project 2025 could disrupt critical education programs, while supporters see it as a necessary step to reduce federal oversight and restore traditional values in schools.

As McMahon prepares to take on a pivotal role in shaping education policy, her past affiliations underscore the broader conservative push to reshape federal governance.