The U.S. Department of Education is set to initiate a dramatic reduction of its workforce beginning this evening, with plans to cut approximately 50% of its 4,400 employees.
The layoffs mark a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to downsize the federal government, aligning with President Donald Trump’s broader vision of reducing bureaucratic sprawl.
Notices of termination are expected to start going out to affected employees tonight, the sources said, signaling a rapid and aggressive move by the administration.
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The cuts come amid speculation that Trump has been preparing an executive order to abolish the Education Department entirely—a step that was reportedly slated for announcement last week but has yet to materialize.
While such an order would require congressional approval to fully dismantle the agency, the administration appears to be leveraging its executive authority to hollow out the department in the meantime.
Earlier today, the Education Department issued a cryptic directive, announcing that its offices would close this evening and remain shuttered through tomorrow, citing unspecified “security reasons.”
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Employees were instructed to work remotely during this period, though sources indicated they have been barred from performing substantive duties—a move that has fueled confusion and anxiety among the workforce.
The layoffs, which will reduce the department’s staff to roughly 2,200, reflect a broader push by the Trump administration to streamline federal agencies, a priority championed by the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
The Education Department has long been a target for Republican ire, with critics arguing it represents federal overreach into state and local education systems.
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Trump has repeatedly called for its elimination, a promise that resonated with his base during the 2024 campaign.
This is a developing story.
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