A White House official has confirmed that Donald Trump has major changes planned for the Department of Education.
The Trump administration has long argued that the department is plagued by “bureaucratic bloat” and has taken steps to address it, starting with sweeping layoffs.
Earlier this month (March 11), the U.S. Department of Education announced a major reduction in force (RIF), resulting in nearly 50% of its staff being laid off. Following this move, the department’s workforce is expected to shrink to approximately 2,183 employees, a decrease of about 1,950 positions.
According to a statement from the Department of Education, the layoffs included nearly 600 employees who voluntarily resigned or retired over the past seven weeks. This figure includes 259 employees who participated in the Deferred Resignation Program and 313 who accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment.
However, the job cuts were only the beginning. A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, has now revealed that the administration has even bigger plans.
Trump is expected to sign an executive order today (March 20) that will formally begin the process of shutting down the Department of Education altogether.
According to a PA report, a White House fact sheet states that the order will instruct Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”
Trump’s intentions to dismantle the department were clear even before his return to the White House. In a 2023 campaign video, he stated (via CNN):
“We’re going to end education coming out of Washington, D.C. We’re going to close it up, all those buildings, all over the place, filled with people who, in many cases, hate our children. We’re going to send it all back to the states.”
The decision to eliminate the department has already sparked significant backlash.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle condemned the move, saying:
“Firing, without cause, nearly half of the Department of Education staff means eliminating dedicated public servants who help ensure our nation’s students have access to the programs and resources that keep class sizes down and expand learning opportunities.”
The National Parents’ Union also criticized the administration’s actions, stating that the layoffs were not about “fixing education” but rather about “making sure millions of children never get a fair shot.”
“And we’re not about to let that happen without a fight,” the group added in a statement to the Associated Press.
