Education Department cuts half its staff as Trump vows to wind the agency down

Education Department to lay off 1,300 employees, halving staff in Trump's push to downsize federal government.

The Education Department plans to lay off more than 1,300 of its employees as part of an effort to halve the organization’s staff — a prelude to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.

Department officials announced the cuts Tuesday (March 11, 2025), raising questions about the agency’s ability to continue usual operations.

The Trump administration had already been whittling the agency’s staff, though buyout offers and the termination of probationary employees. After Tuesday’s (March 11, 2025) layoffs, the Education Department’s staff will sit at roughly half of its previous 4,100, the agency said.

The layoffs are part of a dramatic downsizing directed by Mr. Trump as he moves to reduce the footprint of the federal government. Thousands of jobs are expected to be cut across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration and other agencies.

The department is also terminating leases on buildings in cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland, officials said.

Department officials said it would continue to deliver on its key functions such as the distribution of federal aid to schools, student loan management and oversight of Pell Grants.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said when she got to the department, she wanted to reduce bloat to be able to send more money to local education authorities.