US Education Department Cuts Workforce by Half Amid Trump Administration Policy

The Trump administration has initiated significant cuts to the U.S. Department of Education, reducing its workforce by half, from approximately 4,133 employees to around 2,100. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that more than 1,300 employees were dismissed in a mass layoff, which she characterized as a move towards improved efficiency. The cuts come amidst reports of plans to potentially abolish the agency altogether, with an executive order draft suggesting a shift of educational responsibilities back to the states. The downsizing has raised concerns, particularly regarding civil rights enforcement and ongoing investigations into discrimination at universities. Funding for programs such as student loans and Pell grants will reportedly continue uninterrupted, despite the significant reductions in staff. Critics, including government employee unions, have expressed alarm over the implications of these drastic changes for public education and civil rights protections.