Representative Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Oregon, initiated formal impeachment proceedings against Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Thursday. The resolution targets McMahon’s ongoing efforts to abolish the Department of Education, marking the first time Democrats have sought her impeachment despite their sustained criticism of her departmental agenda.
During her address on the House floor, Bonamici alleged that McMahon provided false statements to Congress and engaged in the illicit transfer of vital department operations to other agencies. Speaking with reporters afterward, Bonamici characterized the moves as crossing a legal line, asserting that the secretary cannot unilaterally relocate programs that were established by Congress within the Department of Education.
The impeachment articles specifically contend that McMahon has demonstrated a systemic refusal to adhere to the law and has violated the public trust. In response to the announcement made on X, Secretary McMahon dismissed the effort, calling on Democrats in Congress to improve their legislative focus. She argued that the impeachment push is a response to her work in improving student performance and reducing federal bureaucracy, while blaming the opposition for broader failures in the education system, such as poor test scores and issues with the FAFSA rollout.
The current controversy stems from the department’s recent decision to shift special education services to the Department of Health and Human Services and move civil rights functions to the Department of Justice. Agency officials maintain they hold the authority to execute these shifts, ensuring that oversight and policy responsibilities remain protected. However, Bonamici insists that these interagency agreements were never intended to facilitate the shutdown of a department.
While the resolution has garnered support from over a dozen Democratic co-sponsors, it faces significant obstacles. As Democrats currently hold the minority in the House, any path to removal would require success in the Republican-led chamber followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate to convict. Bonamici, a senior member of the Education Committee, stated that she felt compelled to act after hearing concerns from disability rights groups and constituents regarding the potential harm caused by the department’s downsizing.
Republican Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg sharply criticized the move, defending McMahon’s actions as fulfilling a mandate from President Trump to streamline the government. He emphasized that simply disagreeing with the administration’s policy agenda does not constitute a valid basis for impeachment.
