Major Workforce Cuts at the Department of Education
The Trump administration has taken a significant step towards its goal of reducing the size of the U.S. Department of Education. A recent announcement revealed that nearly half of the department’s workforce will be cut, with affected employees beginning administrative leave on March 21.
The decision will impact “all divisions” within the department, yet the agency has assured that legally protected programs, such as student loans, Pell Grants, and funding for students with special needs, will continue.
The official statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon highlighted the department’s dedication to “efficiency, accountability, and ensuring resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.”
This reduction will result in the elimination of over 1,300 positions. Additionally, about 600 employees have either voluntarily resigned or retired in the past two months.
AFGE Local 252, representing department employees, strongly opposes the cuts. Sheria Smith, the union’s president, urged Americans to contact Congress members to “protect the Department of Education’s vital work.” However, Smith and other union officers were among those laid off.
Smith expressed concerns about the financial impact on employees and the broader implications for public education. As an attorney with the Office for Civil Rights, she noted the cuts could affect the enforcement of students’ rights, especially those with disabilities.
Departments experiencing layoffs include the Federal Student Aid office, Institute of Education Sciences, and Office for Civil Rights. Although some functions remain, there is debate over whether the department is meeting its legal obligations.
Kenneth Wong, a professor of education policy at Brown University, noted that the legality of these actions could be challenged by Congress or in court, as the administration might argue they are partially implementing the law.
Prior to the announcement, department staff were instructed to vacate offices and work from home, as confirmed by an email shared with NPR by unnamed employees.
The workforce reduction aligns with broader plans for “large-scale reductions in force (RIFs),” as outlined in a memo from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Leading up to the cuts, at least 75 department staff were placed on paid administrative leave, many of whom had attended a long-standing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshop. Additionally, at least 75 probationary staff, who were more recently hired, had their positions terminated.
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