Speaking before the House Education and Workforce Committee Wednesday amid the White House’s efforts to dismantle her agency, McMahon claimed that the Trump administration’s treatment of Harvard University—which includes orders for the university to introduce conservative viewpoints into its curriculum—has been fair.
“Does refusing to hire a Holocaust denier as a member of Harvard’s history department faculty count as an ideological litmus test?” asked Takano.
“But what about this situation…. Would being a Holocaust denier count as that?” Takano continued.
Takano also pressed McMahon on whether the ordinance would compel Harvard to hire faculty that reject the results of the 2020 presidential election or the efficacy of vaccines. In response, the education secretary insisted that there “should be different viewpoints” in America’s most elite universities—even if those viewpoints are not based in any matter of science, fact, or proof. McMahon also scolded Takano for impressing a “political ideology” that she argued was a “false narrative.”
“During your confirmation hearing you were asked by Senator Chris Murphy if an African-American history class violated the administration’s position on diversity, equity, and inclusion. You said you would look into it,” said Lee. “Have you looked into it?”“I do not think that African studies or Middle East studies or Chinese studies are part of DEI—if they are taught as the total history package,” responded McMahon. “So that if you’re giving the facts on both sides, of course they’re not DEI.”
“Well if African American history is part of—” McMahon started, before Lee interjected to argue that it would be impossible to teach the whole of history in singular semesters.
McMahon eventually conceded that she agreed African history could be taught as an isolated area of study without being considered a “DEI course.”
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 4, 2025
Trump signed an executive order to strip the Education Department for parts in March. The order had McMahon’s approval.
In the immediate wake of the order, McMahon penned the mass layoff of more than half the agency’s staff.
The Education Department was already the smallest Cabinet agency, with just over 4,000 employees. Its budget cost American taxpayers $268 billion in 2024, roughly four percent of overall spending.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Education Secretary Defends Hiring Holocaust Deniers at Harvard )
Also on site :