Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., has introduced articles of impeachment against Education Secretary Linda McMahon, citing alleged lies to Congress and unauthorized transfers of departmental responsibilities.
Bonamici's resolution marks the first impeachment effort by Democrats against McMahon, despite previous criticism of her agenda to dismantle the Department of Education. On the House floor, Bonamici stated that McMahon has "lied to Congress" and accused the secretary of making "illegal transfers" of critical Education Department functions to other federal agencies.
"It's completely out of bounds," Bonamici told ABC News. "You can't just unilaterally move a program that Congress put at the Department of Education and put it somewhere else." The impeachment articles assert that McMahon has demonstrated a "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and breached public trust through false statements before Congress.
McMahon responded on X, urging Democrats to "do better" and suggesting that impeaching her for working to improve student outcomes and reduce federal bureaucracy is misguided. She pointed to perceived failures in the education system, including issues with FAFSA rollout, COVID-19 school closures, and parental rights.
Recently, the Department of Education announced plans to move special education services and civil rights responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, respectively. Department officials maintain that these moves are within the agency's authority and that oversight will remain with the Education Department, assuring students will not lose rights.
Bonamici's resolution has garnered over a dozen Democratic co-sponsors. However, for an impeachment to advance, it would require a vote in the Republican-controlled House and a two-thirds conviction vote in the Senate, a challenging prospect with current party majorities. The resolution alleges McMahon has committed "high crimes and misdemeanors" and argues that she lacks the authority to diminish the agency through partnerships with HHS and DOJ, stating, "This is not what an interagency agreement is for. It's not to be used to shut down a department."
Bonamici, a senior member of the House Education Committee, stated her motivation stems from her long-standing commitment to public education and concerns from constituents, particularly disability rights groups, about the department's actions. "I'm just not going to sit by and stay silent when it's [public education] being dismantled and really harmed," she told ABC News.
Republican Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, a supporter of McMahon's policies, criticized Bonamici's impeachment effort. "Secretary McMahon is doing exactly what voters elected President Trump to do: rein in a bloated bureaucracy and put students, parents, and taxpayers first," Walberg said in a statement. "Disagreeing with that agenda does not make it impeachable."