Trump slashes Department of Education workforce in major cutbacks
The Trump administration has announced the layoff of half the employees at the Department of Education, one of the fifteen executive departments of the federal government. About 2,100 people will lose their jobs as part of Trump's campaign promise to streamline government administration.
"As part of the Department of Education's final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force impacting nearly 50 percent of the Department's workforce," Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated on Tuesday.
She added that all activities conducted by the Department of Education are being reviewed. She noted that "some divisions [are] requiring significant reorganiazation to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers."
Previously, Donald Trump had announced plans to eliminate the Department of Education; however, such action would require Congressional approval.
Trump lays off half of the Department of Education staff
The Department of Education, with an annual budget of approximately $238 billion, employs over 4,000 people. It is responsible for funding public schools, managing student loans, and running programs supporting students from low-income families.
It is often mistakenly believed that it manages schools in the U.S. and sets educational curricula, which are actually the responsibilities of states and local districts.
