Trump Names Acting Education Secretary Ahead of Linda McMahon’s Confirmation

Education Week

Brooke Schultz

January 20, 2025

President Donald Trump has directed the interim leader of the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid office to serve as acting secretary of education until the U.S. Senate confirms his pick for the role.

Denise Carter will lead the department in the early days of the new administration until the Senate confirms Linda McMahon—the former WWE CEO and former U.S. Small Business Administration leader—to the role. McMahon’s Senate confirmation hearing hasn’t yet been scheduled.

Joining McMahon in leadership of the department will be Penny Schwinn, the former Tennessee education commissioner whom Trump has tapped as deputy education secretary.

Carter’s designation as acting secretary was among more than 30 similar appointments Trump made on his first day shortly after taking the oath of office. After two speeches at the U.S. Capitol, Trump sat down to sign a series of actions that officially began his second term. Acting department leaders must come from within the agency they’re leading and can generally serve up to 210 days under federal law.

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