Education Department Faces Major Layoffs as Federal Workforce Shrinks

The Education Department announced major staff reductions on Tuesday, cutting over 1,300 employees from its workforce. This significant downsizing impacts the agency responsible for managing federal student loans, tracking educational outcomes, and enforcing school civil rights laws.

With these layoffs, the department, which started the year with 4,133 employees, now faces having its workforce slashed to half its original size just weeks into President Trump’s administration. Out of the 1,315 employees discharged on Tuesday, 572 accepted previous separation packages while 63 probationary employees were dismissed last month.

These staff cuts may signal President Trump’s broader aim to overhaul or even dismantle the department, a move he supports but cannot achieve without Congress’s green light. Linda McMahon, the Education Secretary, justified the cuts as a step towards greater service efficiency, assuring that critical programs like student loans, Pell Grants, special needs funding, and competitive grant management would remain unaffected.

“Today’s workforce reduction underscores the Education Department’s pledge to efficiency, accountability, and targeting resources where they’re needed most: supporting students, parents, and educators,” remarked Ms. McMahon.

Sheria Smith, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, criticized the administration for its lack of respect towards dedicated public servants and pledged to fight these job cuts. Meanwhile, Becky Pringle, head of the National Education Association, warned that these changes might jeopardize job training programs and hike educational costs, ultimately impacting the most vulnerable students.

President Trump is vocal about his desire to abolish the Education Department, instead empowering states and local authorities to manage America’s educational system. He took a hard stance during the 2024 campaign, aligning with the parental rights movement that emerged amid backlash to pandemic-related school closures and restrictive measures.

The movement gained momentum by rallying against perceived liberal biases in curriculum, notably concerning LGBTQ issues and race, which critics argue undermine parental authority and values. In a recent Fox News interview, Ms. McMahon hinted that President Trump is gearing up to sign an executive order aimed at shuttering the department, though specifics about the timing were unclear.

Such an order would directly challenge Congressional authority, as legally, only Congress can close the department. Given the Senate’s current division and public opposition against closing the Education Department, such an initiative appears unlikely. Nonetheless, Trump seems poised to push forward, reportedly considering transferring some student loan responsibilities to the Treasury Department, with officials visiting there for talks earlier this week.

In a Senate confirmation hearing, Ms. McMahon mentioned plans to shift civil rights duties to the Justice Department and educational services for disabled students to the Health and Human Services Department. Project 2025, a conservative strategy for Trump’s second term, presents a comprehensive plan to dismantle the department by distributing its tasks across other government branches.

Speculation about the layoffs began when department employees received an ambiguous email announcing a one-day closure of its Washington offices, hinting at upcoming changes. Later on, officials confirmed the closure pertained to the layoffs, enacted to ensure safety for remaining staff.

Affected workers received their termination notices via email after hours. They will continue to receive full pay and benefits for a 90-day period and will be compensated proportionally based on their years of service.

Around 75 ex-employees assembled outside the department’s Washington headquarters to protest the cuts. Organizer Dorie Turner Nolt encouraged supporters to show solidarity for those still inside, who are striving to uphold democracy. In response, several employees inside waved and signaled their thanks.

On the same evening, a staff member discreetly passed government laptops to colleagues outside, anxiously checking for layoff notices. This worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared that she had long been responsible for overseeing departmental payments.

President Trump has initiated widespread changes across federal agencies, collaborating with a team directed by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, to streamline the government. Musk’s team is actively examining over 20 federal agencies while gaining access to sensitive systems.

Ms. McMahon expressed her appreciation for Musk’s team’s insights during weekly meetings. “Their findings on government waste have been invaluable, and we are acting on them,” she told Fox News.