Education Department Set to Cut Workforce Nearly by Half, Yet Pledges to Maintain Essential Statutory Programs

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
3:04 PM – Wednesday, March 12, 2025

In line with the Trump administration’s plans to substantially downsize the agency, the Department of Education disclosed on Tuesday its intention to reduce its personnel by nearly 50%.

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The department assured that it “will continue to uphold all statutory programs under its jurisdiction, encompassing formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, resources for special needs students, and competitive grant initiatives.”

“The current workforce reduction illustrates the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and directing resources where they are most needed: to students, parents, and teachers,” stated Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “I thank the devoted public servants for their contributions to the department. This is an essential step in restoring the excellence of the U.S. education system.”

According to the department, affected employees will retain full pay and benefits until June 9^th, along with severance and retirement benefits while on leave starting Friday, March 21^st.

Reports suggest that approximately 1,300 employees will be laid off from the Education Department.

Included in the layoffs are 259 staff members who accepted a deferred resignation plan provided by the Trump administration.

The announcement came mere hours after departmental staff were notified that all regional and department offices in Washington, D.C., would be closed on Wednesday “for security purposes.”

Less than 10% of the funding for public schools nationwide is contributed by the department, with the majority coming from state and local taxes.

During a segment on “Fox and Friends” on Tuesday morning, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) emphasized that the Department of Education has been “imposing federal mandates, inefficiently using taxpayer funds, and benefiting teachers’ unions,” causing “unfortunate” consequences.

“This shift will better serve students, parents, teachers, [and] administrators by allowing decisions to be made at the local level,” Johnson remarked.

I spoke to @EDSecMcMahon and she made it clear this will not have an impact on @usedgov ability to carry out its statutory obligations. This action is aimed at fulfilling the admin’s goal of addressing redundancy and inefficiency in the federal government. https://t.co/YtEXZF4SXH

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) March 11, 2025

Shortly after her confirmation as Secretary of Education, McMahon distributed a memo titled “Our Department’s Final Mission.”

“This is our chance to make one last memorable contribution to future generations of students. I invite you to collaborate with me in ensuring that once our final mission concludes, we can claim that we left American education more liberated, robust, and filled with hope for the future,” the memo states.

Before the Department of Education can be fully eliminated, Congress must first grant approval, should the administration proceed with its intention to dismantle the department.

Such an initiative would require a 60-vote majority in the Senate. Nevertheless, political analysts argue it is improbable that sufficient Democrats will support the GOP efforts, despite Republicans holding majority positions in both chambers.

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