The Trump administration has initiated a major workforce reduction at the Education Department that will cut nearly 50% of its staff, according to an official press release issued on March 11.
The Department of Education announced the reduction in force will place affected employees on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21. After this action, the department’s workforce will shrink to roughly 2,183 workers from 4,133 staff when President Trump took office.
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in the statement.
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The department said it will continue to deliver all statutory programs that fall under its purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.
The press release detailed that 259 employees accepted a Deferred Resignation Program and 313 employees took a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment over the past seven weeks. The remaining affected employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, as well as severance pay or retirement benefits based on length of service.
The administration wants to use the department to crack down on schools and colleges with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts while shifting control of education policy to parents and local governments, according to administration statements.
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“I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system,” McMahon added.
Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon favor giving parents public money for private school tuition and homeschooling, marking a shift from previous Republican administrations. George W. Bush advocated stronger federal oversight to improve student learning and increase college attendance. Trump officials oppose student debt forgiveness and encourage vocational education as an alternative to four-year degrees.
The staff reductions come when federal involvement in classrooms has reached its lowest point in decades. Federal influence decreased after 2015 when then-President Barack Obama signed legislation relaxing Washington’s role in response to backlash against mandatory testing.
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