The U.S. Department of Education is cutting nearly half its workforce in a major shakeup ordered by President Donald Trump. Secretary Linda McMahon announced the layoffs Tuesday, saying the move will slash bureaucracy and put power back in the hands of states and local communities. Nearly 2,000 federal workers will lose their jobs as the agency shrinks from over 4,000 employees to just 2,183. McMahon called it a “final mission” to restore American education by trimming wasteful Washington programs.
Employees got the bad news just hours after being told to clear out of federal offices for a surprise “security” closure. Workers must vacate buildings by Friday and won’t return. Those laid off will keep getting paychecks until June, plus severance packages. The department claims this downsizing won’t hurt student loans, special education funding, or other programs required by law. McMahon insists the cuts target bloated administrative roles, not services for families.
President Trump has wanted to close the Education Department since his 2016 campaign, arguing states should control schools without federal meddling. This move gets him closer to that goal without waiting for Congress. Conservative groups praise McMahon for standing up to union bosses and bureaucrats who’ve dominated education policy for decades. They say test scores dropped while the department grew, proving Washington interference doesn’t work.
Democrats and teachers’ unions blasted the layoffs, claiming they’ll harm students. Critics argue the department still needs staff to handle student loans and protect disabled kids’ rights. But the administration says those worries are overblown. They point out the agency employed just 3,600 people under Trump’s first term without major issues. McMahon vows essential services will run smoothly with fewer pencil-pushers.
The layoffs follow weeks of buyout offers and early retirements to shrink the department quietly. About 600 workers took deals to leave voluntarily. Now the rest face forced cuts. Employees describe a tense atmosphere, with many fearing they’ll be punished for questioning orders. One worker said staff are “petrified to do their jobs” under the threat of sudden dismissal.
This isn’t just about jobs—it’s part of a bigger plan to dismantle what conservatives call the “deep state.” The Trump team has already slashed contracts promoting diversity programs and canceled national student testing they view as pointless. Next, they may transfer remaining Education Department duties to other agencies. McMahon’s team says this will save taxpayer money and stop activists from pushing radical policies through federal grants.
While liberals panic, supporters say the cuts fix a broken system. The department ballooned under Biden, costing billions while American kids fell behind globally. Now states can tailor education without Washington’s one-size-fits-all rules. As one think tank put it, “Funding for students will continue. The bloat will not.” The message is clear: parents, not bureaucrats, should decide what’s best for their children.
The fight over education power isn’t new. Reagan tried to scrap the department in the 1980s, but unions blocked him. Trump and McMahon are finishing what he started. They’re betting that after November’s election, Republicans in Congress will make these cuts permanent. For now, the administration is pushing ahead—proving that even without Congress, determined leaders can shrink big government.
