US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate Linda McMahon as his administration's secretary of education.

McMahon was the President and later CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, a professional wrestling organization. She served as Administrator of the Small Business Administration under Trump's first presidency.

McMahon has also served as the chair of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

She is co-chair of Trump's transition team, along with businessman Howard Lutnick who has been tapped as the next commerce secretary.

Trump said in a statement on Tuesday that McMahon will fight tirelessly as secretary of education to expand choice to every state in America, and empower parents to make the best education decisions for their families.

Trump has criticized the Department of Education for supporting what he calls "left-wing indoctrination" in classrooms.

The president-elect said in his de facto policy pledges, Agenda 47, that he intends to close down the education department in Washington.