The U.S. Department of Education announced plans Tuesday to lay off more than 1,300 employees, reducing its workforce by half as part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal government.
The cuts, which follow previous staff reductions through buyouts and probationary terminations, will leave the department with approximately 2,050 employees, down from its previous 4,100. Officials raised concerns about the agency’s ability to maintain regular operations amid the downsizing.
The layoffs are part of a large-scale federal workforce reduction spearheaded by Trump, with thousands of positions also expected to be cut across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and other agencies. In addition, the Education Department is terminating building leases in cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland.
Despite the workforce reductions, department officials stated that key responsibilities—including distributing federal aid to schools, managing student loans, and overseeing Pell Grants—would continue.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the move, emphasizing the need to redirect funds to state education authorities. “So many of the programs are really excellent, so we need to make sure the money goes to the states,” McMahon said in a Fox News interview Tuesday.
In a memo issued on March 3, the day she was confirmed by the Senate, McMahon warned employees of impending deep cuts, describing the department’s “final mission” as eliminating bureaucracy and transferring its authority to state governments.
Trump, who campaigned on dismantling the agency, has repeatedly claimed it is controlled by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” While McMahon acknowledged during her confirmation hearing that only Congress has the power to abolish the department, she indicated that restructuring and budget reductions were necessary.
Concerns remain over whether the staff reductions will impact core functions such as enforcing civil rights protections for students with disabilities and managing the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Critics argue the cuts could hinder the department’s ability to address these responsibilities effectively.
Jeanne Allen, of the Center for Education Reform, supported the cuts, arguing they would empower state and local leaders to create more flexible education solutions. However, Roxanne Garza, a former chief of staff in the Office of Postsecondary Education under President Joe Biden, questioned whether essential services could continue unaffected. “How those things will not be impacted with far fewer staff… I just don’t see it,” she said.
The department temporarily closed its Washington headquarters and regional offices Wednesday, citing unspecified security concerns, before reopening Thursday.
