The U.S. Department of Education has announced plans to lay off nearly half of its workforce, following President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to dismantle the agency.
On Tuesday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the layoffs of 1,300 employees 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.”
Following this round of layoffs, the department’s workforce will be reduced from its previous 4,100 employees to nearly half that number. An additional 572 employees had already accepted voluntary resignations or retirements over the past seven weeks. Those newly laid off will be placed on administrative leave at the end of next week.
The department is also terminating office leases in major cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland. Despite these cuts, it will continue overseeing federal aid distribution to schools, student loan management, and Pell Grant oversight.
Trump, who has long campaigned on closing the Education Department, claims the agency has been taken over 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 budget cuts and restructuring were likely.
