The Department of Education’s 4,000-employee workforce is being cut in half. Hundreds of the department’s employees have been placed on leave or have accepted buyout offers from the Trump Administration, ahead of an expected order that may be made by President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The press release from the department said, “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. Impacted Department staff will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21st.”
“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,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “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 of Education will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking, the news release said.
All divisions within the Department are impacted by the reduction, with some divisions requiring significant reorganization to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers, the department said.
When President Trump was inaugurated, the Department’s workforce stood at 4,133 workers. After today’s actions, the Department’s workforce will total roughly 2,183 workers. Included in the reduction in force are nearly 600 employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement over the last seven weeks, including:
- 259 employees accepted the Deferred Resignation Program
- 313 employees accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment
“Remaining employees impacted by the reduction in force will be placed on administrative leave beginning next Friday, March 21. Pursuant to regulatory requirements and the Department’s collective bargaining agreement, all impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9th, as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service,” the department said.
This restructuring marks one of the most significant federal agency downsizing efforts in recent history, reflecting the Trump administration’s broader intent to limit the federal government’s role in education policy, which has been seen to be ineffective and at times harmful to education.
As with other moves by the Executive Branch, this is expected to draw a lawsuit and may be fought out in court to see whether Trump actually is president, or if federal judges are.
Nothing could be finer than ………….in the morning!
Good start, but need to simply eliminate the Department completely.
As any bureaucratic cancer, the department will easily fester and grow back to what’s its been.
The federal government has no business to be involved in education.