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From CBS News: The Department of Education on Tuesday announced it is cutting its workforce by nearly 50% as the Trump administration proceeds with its plans to dismantle the agency.
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. “I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
The department said affected staff would be placed on leave starting Friday, March 21, and will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, in addition to severance and retirement benefits.
According to the Education Department, the agency’s workforce is being slashed from 4,133 workers to about 2,183. The reductions include 259 employees who accepted the Trump administration’s deferred resignation agreement.
In a statement on X Tuesday evening, McMahon wrote, “As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce.”
As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 11, 2025
I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 11, 2025
“If we get rid of the bureaucracy at the Department of Education, MORE money can go directly to the STATES — where it belongs,” McMahan told Fox News host Laura Ingraham Tuesday night.
.@EDSecMcMahon: If we get rid of the bureaucracy at the Department of Education, MORE money can go directly to the STATES — where it belongs. pic.twitter.com/V9cFMNMHCd
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2025
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice laid it all out:
.@EDSecMcMahon is getting business done at the Federal Department of Education! She’s slashing total @usedgov staff by 50%—down from 4,133—and saving over $500 million annually! Here’s the breakdown:
•Staff Reductions:
◦259 signed for deferred resignation
◦313 took voluntary resignation incentive payments
◦1,315 employees face reduction-in-force notices
◦2,183 employees will remain
•Details on Cuts:
◦Terminated staff get full pay and benefits for 90 days, plus severance: 1 week’s salary per year served (under 10 years) or 2 weeks per year (over 10 years)
•Streamlining Operations:
◦Consolidating offices and office managers
◦Cutting leases in San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Cleveland, NY, and Chicago
◦ Working towards moving to one HQ building in DC
🚨 Important for parents to know
•No Impact On:
◦Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, Office of Civil Rights, Title I, or IDEA
This overhaul targets inward-facing inefficiencies—like teams of 5 with their own office managers—making the department leaner and more cost-effective. Big moves, big savings!
.@EDSecMcMahon is getting business done at the Federal Department of Education!
She’s slashing total @usedgov staff by 50%—down from 4,133—and saving over $500 million annually!
Here’s the breakdown:
•Staff Reductions:
◦259 signed for deferred resignation
◦313 took… https://t.co/w8je5TiYuE— Tiffany Justice (@4TiffanyJustice) March 11, 2025
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote in a post on X, “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.”
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
In an interview with Newsmax, McMahon explained, “I think @POTUS made it very clear, that he thought that the Department of Education should totally go away — and he said that my successful job will be to put myself OUT of a job. I’m working to fulfill that mandate that he gave to me… but in the meantime, we want to make sure that the programs — everything that is put in place — continues to operate in a more efficient way.”
.@EDSecMcMahon: “I think @POTUS made it very clear, that he thought that the Department of Education should totally go away — and he said that my successful job will be to put myself OUT of a job. I’m working to fulfill that mandate that he gave to me… but in the meantime, we… pic.twitter.com/gNLbLzEzn9
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2025
Teachers union president Randi Weingarten is having a major meltdown, and fumed that the money will end up just being given to parents so they can send their children to private or religious schools.
BREAKING: Randi Weingarten REVEALS why she doesn’t want to abolish the Department of Education and send the money back to the states 🚨
She’s AFRAID states will decide to give the money to PARENTS for school choice.
“We know what Texas would do: THEY’LL USE IT FOR VOUCHERS!” pic.twitter.com/lV4HaYCxEl
— Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) March 10, 2025
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