Linda McMahon seeks approval for $43,278 office furniture purchase
The education secretary’s request for new furnishings coincides with an ongoing effort to reduce the department’s budget and staff.
By Matthew Collins ·
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has requested permission to spend $43,278.64 on new furniture for her office. The purchase includes a desk, conference table, and chairs. This spending plan was revealed through non-public records shared with the New York Times.
McMahon’s office provided a justification for the cost to Congress. Officials stated that the current furniture is worn out. They argued that the existing items cannot be configurationally or aesthetically integrated into the agency’s new office space.
The department is currently in the process of relocating. In March, McMahon announced the move from the Lyndon B Johnson building to a smaller structure in downtown Washington, D.C. This new location previously housed the US Agency for International Development before the administration closed that agency. McMahon stated that this relocation would save taxpayers $4.8 million annually.
The administration is simultaneously working to reduce the size and scope of the Department of Education. Shortly after Donald Trump took office in 2025, he signed an executive order directing McMahon to close the department. Although Congress established the agency and has not yet voted to dissolve it, the administration has taken steps to transfer responsibilities. Special education services have moved to the Department of Health and Human Services, while civil rights enforcement has shifted to the Justice Department.
Workforce reductions have nearly halved the department’s staffing levels. Savannah Newhouse, the department’s press secretary, defended the furniture purchase. She said the administration is saving taxpayers millions of dollars through its education cuts. Newhouse added that new federal offices need places to sit, write, and meet, just as private sector offices do.
The next step in the process involves the formal approval of the furniture budget. The administration continues to push for the permanent closure of the department, a goal that requires action from the Republican-controlled chambers of Congress.
Source: The Guardian
