The U.S. Department of Education has laid off nearly 50% of its workforce, the agency announced Tuesday. The impacted employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning March 21.
When President Donald Trump was inaugurated, the department had 4,133 employees. After Tuesday’s announcement, the workforce now stands at about 2,183 employees. The reduction includes nearly 600 employees who accepted voluntary buyouts.
All divisions within the department are impacted by the reduction, and those impacted will have 10 days to transfer their job duties to another staffer or political appointee, a source told Inside Higher Ed. They will also receive full pay and benefits through June 9, “as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service,” the press release says.
According to the press release, all “statutory programs that full under the agency’s purview” will continue, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.
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The department also announced its Washington, D.C., offices would be closed Tuesday for “security reasons,” according to an email obtained by Inside Higher Ed. The email directed staff to take their laptops home with them Tuesday in order to work remotely Wednesday, and that they “would not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12th, for any reason.”
The cuts are part of a government-wide strategy to reduce the federal workforce. After taking office last week, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon issued a department-wide email telling staff to prepare for a “momentous final mission” to eliminate “bureaucratic bloat” and return education to the states.
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” said McMahon. “I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
Trump had reportedly planned to sign an executive order last week directing McMahon to facilitate closure of the department, a move that would require congressional approval, which many experts say is unlikely. While Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers, the move would require 60 votes in the Senate.
What Does the Education Department Do?
The Education Department has numerous responsibilities, including enforcing non-discrimination policies in schools, distributing federal financial aid, and collecting and disseminating data and research related to schools. It manages programs like Title I for low-income schools and oversees the implementation of civil rights protections such as those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title IX.
Last month, the Trump administration canceled approximately $881 million in contracts to the department’s nonpartisan research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences, K-12 Dive reports. The administration also put on leave Peggy Carr, who led the IES’ National Center for Education Statistics for more than three decades.
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According to K-12 Dive, NCES research serves as a significant resource for educators. In the past few years, its work included tracking the pandemic’s impact on student learning, increasing inequities, and educator and student mental health.
The department’s funds account for less than 10% of the nation’s public school funding, which is largely driven by state and local taxes.
