Linda McMahon’s Trojan Horse
Preview:
The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, has proposed consolidating federal student aid programs and shifting oversight responsibilities in ways critics say would weaken accountability and consumer protections for students. The plan draws comparisons to a Trojan horse — presenting itself as streamlining bureaucracy while potentially dismantling core safeguards built into the federal financial aid system. Proposed changes include restructuring how accreditation, state authorization, and program integrity functions operate, raising concerns that for-profit and low-quality institutions could face less scrutiny. Higher education advocates warn that the restructuring prioritizes deregulation over student outcomes, particularly for low-income and first-generation students who rely most heavily on federal aid. The moves are seen as part of a broader effort to shrink the Department of Education's footprint in ways that could have lasting consequences for access and quality in higher education.
Originally published: August 10, 2026
Author: Brian Rosenberg
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Macalester College
Published by: Inside Higher Ed