Trump education secretary Linda McMahon stumbles over trillion-dollar funding math for disadvantaged students

US Education Secretary Linda McMahon made a major math error during a Senate hearing, while discussing $1.58 billion in annual funding for TRIO and GEAR UP programs. As reported by The New Republic, both McMahon and Senator John Kennedy incorrectly estimated the total cost over ten years as over $1 trillion. The blunder raised concerns about budget understanding and transparency, especially as McMahon also evaded questions on after-school funding commitments.