The US Department of Education is set to lay off over 1,300 employees—more than a quarter of its workforce—as part of a restructuring plan that aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to downsize the federal government.
Officials announced the layoffs on Tuesday, raising concerns about the department’s ability to maintain regular operations.
The cuts are part of a wider initiative ordered by Trump, which is expected to result in significant job reductions across multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration.
In addition to job cuts, the department will terminate lease agreements for several office buildings in major cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Cleveland.
Despite these reductions, officials have assured that the changes will not impact the Office for Civil Rights or its federally mandated responsibilities, including the distribution of federal aid to schools.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon had previously warned employees in a March 3 memo—issued the same day her appointment was confirmed by the Senate—to prepare for deep budget cuts.
She emphasized that the department’s ultimate goal is to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and transfer more educational authority to individual states.
In an unexpected move, the department sent an email to employees on Tuesday, announcing that its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and regional offices would be closed on Wednesday for unspecified "security reasons" before reopening on Thursday.
Follow the latest news on Google News
