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Education Secretary Threatens Funding Over Native Mascots Ban

6/6/2025

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McMahon's Funding Ultimatum

On May 30, 2025, Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a stark ultimatum to New York: lift the ban on Native American mascots or face severe cuts to education funding. This controversial stance echoes the Trump administration's troubling trend of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, disregarding the voices of Indigenous communities and the damage these mascots inflict, as highlighted by tribal councils and research.

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Roberts Defends Chiefs

Oliver Roberts, a Harvard Law graduate, is at the forefront of a legal fight to preserve the Massapequa Chiefs name, challenging New York's ban on Native American imagery. He claims the ban undermines local values and infringes on civil rights. Education Secretary Linda McMahon backs him, warning of federal funding cuts if the state fails to act.

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McMahon's Funding Ultimatum

On May 30, 2025, Education Secretary Linda McMahon issued a stark ultimatum to New York: lift the ban on Native American mascots or face severe cuts to education funding. This controversial stance echoes the Trump administration's troubling trend of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, disregarding the voices of Indigenous communities and the damage these mascots inflict, as highlighted by tribal councils and research.

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