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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education announced plans to lay off more than 1,300 employees as part of a broader initiative to reduce its workforce by half—a key step in President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the agency.
The layoffs, revealed on Tuesday, have sparked concerns about the department’s ability to carry out its core functions, including federal aid distribution, student loan oversight, and civil rights enforcement. The agency had already been reducing staff through buyouts and probationary terminations, but with this latest round of cuts, its workforce will shrink from 4,100 to roughly 2,000 employees.
As part of the restructuring, the department will also terminate office leases in major cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland. Despite the drastic reduction, officials insist that essential services will remain intact.
“Today’s workforce reduction reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
McMahon, who was confirmed by the Senate on March 3, had previously warned staff to expect significant downsizing. She emphasized that the agency’s ultimate goal is to shift more educational authority to individual states.
The department informed employees via email that its Washington headquarters and regional offices would be closed Wednesday for unspecified “security reasons” before reopening Thursday.
Trump has long criticized the Education Department, calling it bloated and ideologically driven. While only Congress has the power to abolish the agency, Trump’s administration is actively working to limit its reach.
Critics fear the cuts could undermine critical programs, particularly those protecting the rights of students with disabilities and managing the nation’s $1.6 trillion in federal student loans.
Even before the layoffs, the Education Department was one of the smallest Cabinet-level agencies, with 3,100 employees in Washington and 1,100 across regional offices. The workforce had already been under pressure to resign, with the administration offering buyouts of up to $25,000 before the March 3 deadline, warning that layoffs were imminent.
It remains to be seen how these cuts will impact students, but as concerns grow, the debate over the future of federal education policy is far from over.
