In a move reflecting President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape the federal government, the U.S. Education Department confirmed it will reduce its workforce by nearly 50%, laying off hundreds of employees. This announcement comes as the Trump administration proposes dismantling the Education Department altogether.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the layoffs were part of the agency’s commitment to efficiency and accountability with the aim of directing resources more effectively towards students, parents, and teachers. This massive reduction cuts the department’s workforce of approximately 4,100 in half, impacting around 1,300 employees who will be notified of their upcoming termination, slated to occur in 90 days. These affected workers will be allowed to telework starting Wednesday and will go on paid administrative leave by March 21, with severance pay tied to their tenure at the department.
The current layoffs follow the previous dismissal of 63 probationary employees and voluntary buyouts taken by over 300 staff members, which were incentivized with offers up to $25,000. Trump’s approach to scaling back federal agencies is mirrored in initiatives led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, indicating a broader objective to reduce the size of the federal government.
Despite promises that federal student aid programs will remain unaffected, experts are sounding alarms regarding the agency’s capability to function effectively with such a reduced workforce. The layoffs have raised questions about the future management of the $1.5 trillion in student loans currently overseen by the department.
Several regional offices, including those in San Francisco and New York, will also close as part of these changes, with a plan to consolidate operations into Washington, D.C. The decision to close offices has been historically rare, even during periods when high-profile visitors were expected, leading many longtime employees to express significant anxiety about the unfolding situation.
Employees and labor unions have criticized the administration over the layoffs, citing concerns for both the impacted workers and the students reliant on educational services provided by the department. The American Federation of Government Employees highlighted the chaotic environment and a perceived lack of professional respect for long-serving public servants. Similarly, Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, condemned the drastic reductions, stressing that the true victims will be vulnerable student populations across the nation.
Neal McCluskey from the Cato Institute raised critical questions about the feasibility of effectively managing education services post-layoffs, emphasizing that it may take time to ascertain whether the department will continue to function adequately in its diminished capacity.
As the Education Department prepares for these significant changes, the ramifications of such staffing cuts will likely reverberate throughout the education sector and come under scrutiny in the months to follow. Uncertainty looms not just for current employees but also for students and families who depend heavily on the services provided by the federal agency.