Rep. Clyde Questions Sec. McMahon on Defining 'Woman' and Department of Education's Role

Questioning the Definition of 'Woman'

• 🎯 Rep. Andrew Clyde directly asked Secretary McMahon if the Department of Education can define what a woman is, referencing former Secretary Cardona's previous refusals.
• 💬 McMahon responded personally, stating, "I was born a girl and I grew to be an adult woman."
• 💡 This exchange highlights concerns about the Department's finalized Title 9 rule redefining sex-based discrimination to include gender identity, which Clyde argues puts female students at risk.

Reforming the Department of Education

• ✂️ Clyde criticized the Department of Education for growing beyond its intent, imposing mandates, funding ideological programs, and creating red tape, leading to declining student performance and ballooning costs.
• 🏛️ He praised President Trump's FY26 budget request for cutting wasteful programs and aiming to return power to states, parents, and local communities.
• 💰 The budget's goal is to spend less, centralize less, and ensure more funding reaches the classroom by eliminating bureaucratic red tape.

Protecting Female Students and Athletes

• 🚫 Clyde expressed concern that the Department's policies force female students to share spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms with biological males, stating, "If you cannot define a woman, you cannot defend a woman."
• 🏃‍♂️ He referenced President Trump's executive order to ban biological males from women's sports and spaces, which he believes protects young girls and women.
• ✅ The NCAA reportedly updated its policies shortly after this executive order to prohibit biological males from competing in women's sports.

Budget Priorities and School Choice

• 📚 McMahon confirmed that President Trump's budget fully preserves critical funding for schools, including Title One Part A and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding.
• 📉 Despite nearly $3 trillion spent on federal education funding since 1980, test scores have stagnated or declined, indicating a need for reform.
• 🏫 The budget aims to increase charter school options and support parental choice, including Catholic schools and homeschooling, to ensure students are not trapped in failing schools and to improve academic outcomes.