Education Chief Seeks $43K Office Upgrade While Agency Winds Down

WHO:

The Independent - Education Secretary Linda McMahon is seeking new furniture for her government office while pursuing the closure of the U.S. Department of Education.

The Independent - Department press secretary Savannah Newhouse defended the purchase, saying, “Believe it or not, just like in the private sector, new federal offices need places to sit, write and meet.”

Alternet - Newhouse said the office move was “saving taxpayers millions of dollars” and defended the furniture as necessary for employees to “sit, write and meet.”

The Independent - McMahon told lawmakers that President Trump’s goal was to end the department and return authority to parents, teachers and local leaders.

Truthout - McMahon plans to remove the Federal Student Aid office from the Department of Education.

WHAT:

The Independent - Department records reviewed by The New York Times show McMahon’s office plans to spend $43,278.64 on chairs, a conference table, a desk and other furniture.

The Independent - Staff told Congress the existing furniture was dilapidated and “cannot be configurationally or aesthetically integrated into the agency’s new office space.”

Alternet - The department has about 2,300 employees, down from 4,100 when Trump began his second term; the new location uses 80% less space, and McMahon said 70% of the former headquarters was vacant.

Alternet - McMahon said the move would save about $5 million in annual operating costs.

The Independent - About 43% of department staff have been laid off or departed, and many department functions have been assigned to other agencies.

The Independent - The department’s fiscal-year 2026 budget was about $80 billion.

Alternet - Trump’s White House projects include a proposed 90,000-square-foot state ballroom for about 1,000 guests, estimated at $300 million to $600 million or more, and a planned six-story underground military complex. A helipad of roughly 80,000 square feet is also described.

WHERE:

Alternet - The department’s new headquarters is in a privately owned building in southwest Washington, one block from its former building; the property previously housed the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Alternet - The proposed White House ballroom and helipad are at the White House.

WHY:

The Independent - McMahon says she is pursuing the department’s closure to return education authority to parents, teachers and local leaders.

The Independent - Closing the department requires congressional legislation; the article says Congress had not voted to approve closure.

HOW:

The Independent - Congress must pass legislation to close the Department of Education.

The Independent - McMahon said the department’s functions had been delegated to other departments as staffing was reduced.

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 21:05 UTC)

Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s office plans to spend $43,278.64 on new furniture as she pursues closing the Department of Education, a move that requires congressional approval. The department says its existing furniture cannot be used in its new headquarters, and McMahon says the relocation will save about $5 million a year as the agency shrinks and shifts functions to other departments. Press secretary Savannah Newhouse defended the purchase as necessary for staff to work and meet, while McMahon says closing the department would return education authority to parents, teachers and local leaders.