March 12, 2025 Story by: Editor
The US Department of Education is set to reduce its workforce by nearly half, with 1,300 layoffs announced on Tuesday. Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the move as a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
In a post on X, McMahon stated: “Today’s [reduction in force] reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.”
Workforce Reduction and Office Closures
Following these layoffs, the department’s workforce will be reduced to nearly half of its original 4,100 employees, according to a statement from the agency. Additionally, 572 employees had already accepted “voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement” over the past seven weeks. The newly affected employees will be placed on administrative leave at the end of next week.
Alongside the staff reductions, the department is also terminating leases for office buildings in cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland, officials confirmed. Despite these cutbacks, the agency will continue to oversee federal aid distribution to schools, student loan management, and oversight of Pell Grants, the statement said.
Political Response to the Cuts
Former President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to eliminate the Department of Education, claiming it had been taken over by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists.” During McMahon’s confirmation hearing, she acknowledged that only Congress has the power to abolish the department but suggested that cuts and reorganization were necessary.
The decision has been met with strong criticism from Democratic and progressive leaders. Texas Representative Greg Casar condemned the move, stating on X that those in charge were “stealing from our children to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
Similarly, Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued a statement denouncing the layoffs: “Presidents Trump and Musk and their billionaire buddies are so detached from how Americans live that they cannot see how ending public education and canceling these contracts kills the American Dream … If kids from working-class families do not have access to schools, how can they build a future?”
Investigations and Legal Challenges
As these cuts proceed, McMahon has also taken action against universities. On Monday, she sent letters to 60 universities, warning them that they were under investigation for potential Civil Rights Act violations related to protests against Israel’s war on Gaza. The Trump administration has categorized these protests as “antisemitic harassment and discrimination” against Jewish students.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from teacher training programs, citing concerns that these cuts were already impacting efforts to address a nationwide teacher shortage.
US District Judge Myong Joun ruled in favor of eight states that had requested a temporary restraining order, arguing that the proposed funding cuts were motivated by Trump’s push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which the president has claimed are a form of discrimination against white Americans.
According to the department, the affected employees will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21.
Source: The Guardian
