Linda McMahon
Despite lobbying Congress to shut down the Education Department, Secretary Linda McMahon is planning a costly $43,000 renovation of her office. The New York Times reviewed department records that reveal McMahon is lobbying for the office upgrade due to alleged outdated furniture that she says “cannot be configurationally or aesthetically integrated into the agency’s new office space.” An itemized list shows McMahon wants to splurge on a new desk, conference table, and chairs, among other items.
Her request comes months after revealing she’s transitioning to a new headquarters. Her new, smaller office is located one block from her previous building in southwest Washington, in a privately owned property that once housed the now-shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development.
McMahon has said the move will save about $5 million in annual operating costs, citing “unprecedented progress in reducing the federal education footprint.” The statement highlights her efforts alongside President Donald Trump to dismantle the Education Department. However, the projected savings have not stopped McMahon from pursuing a costly renovation of her new office.
The Education Department now has about 2,300 employees, down significantly from the 4,100 staff members it had when President Donald Trump began his second term. Because of the decline in staff, McMahon previously reported that 70% of the department’s former headquarters was vacant. The department’s new location will use 80% less space than its previous building.
When asked about McMahon’s office purchases, Education Department press secretary Savannah Newhouse said the move was “saving taxpayers millions of dollars.” She also defended the furniture upgrades, saying federal offices need places for employees to “sit, write and meet,” just like private-sector workplaces. “Believe it or not, just like in the private sector, new federal offices need places to sit, write and meet,” Newhouse asserted.
News of McMahon’s planned office renovation comes as Trump faces public backlash over his own White House renovations and other proposed construction projects. Trump has come under fierce scrutiny following the demolition of the historic East Wing to make way for a proposed 90,000-square-foot state ballroom that could seat about 1,000 guests. The project, estimated to cost between $300 million and $600 million or more, also includes plans for a six-story underground military complex.
Trump’s White House renovations also include a multimillion-dollar helipad covering roughly 80,000 square feet of the South Lawn. Built with Italian granite, the helipad is intended to protect the lawn from damage caused by Marine One’s exhaust.