The U.S. Department of Education is undergoing one of its most drastic transformations as the Trump administration aggressively moves to reduce its workforce by nearly 50%. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the mass layoffs, marking what she described as the first step in dismantling the department entirely. The cuts come as part of a broader Republican effort to shift control over education policy back to states and local governments as it was prior to the DOE era and start which began under Jimmy Carter.  

Mass Layoffs Reshape the Department 

The department will shrink to just under 2,200 employees, a significant drop from the 4,133 who worked there when Trump took office. A third of the staff is being let go through a “reduction in force,” while hundreds of others are accepting voluntary buyouts. These cuts follow the administration’s decision to slash hundreds of millions in grants and contracts that supported education research, technical assistance, and teacher training programs.

McMahon’s Justification and the Political Response
McMahon defended the cuts as a necessary move to improve efficiency and reduce government bureaucracy. She stated that reallocating resources directly to students, parents, and teachers was the department’s new priority. However, critics argue that gutting the department will severely impact its ability to oversee education funding and enforce key regulations.

Public education advocates and civil rights groups have condemned the move, with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, calling it “an attack on opportunity.” She warned that the reduction in staff would create chaos within federal education programs, leaving vulnerable students without necessary protections and resources.

Trump’s Push for Departmental Dissolution 

The layoffs align with Trump’s broader efforts to eliminate the Department of Education altogether. A draft executive order, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, directs McMahon to begin the process of shutting down the department. Although only Congress has the power to formally abolish the agency, the administration is making aggressive moves to weaken it significantly.

Many education policy experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of completely dismantling the department. Mike Petrilli, president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, dismissed the executive order as “political theater,” arguing that eliminating the department would face major legislative hurdles. Others warn that dismantling the department could result in states misallocating federal education funds, further exacerbating educational disparities.