The Trump administration took a seismic step toward dismantling the U.S. Department of Education (ED) today, announcing an immediate 50% reduction in its workforce and the termination of 131 “duplicative and unnecessary” programs.
The move, which includes closing several regional offices, aligns with President Donald Trump’s pledge to shutter the agency entirely and return control of education to states and communities.
The “reduction-in-force,” affecting over 1,300 of the department’s 4,100 employees, will cut its staff to roughly 2,050 when combined with prior reductions.
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Senior department officials described the layoffs as adhering to standard civil service protocols, with terminated employees receiving 90 days of continued pay and severance equivalent to one week’s salary per year of service.
Notices began circulating Tuesday evening following the department’s abrupt closure of offices for “security reasons,” which left employees reeling.
“This is an important and necessary move,” said Jeanne Allen, founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform (CER), a prominent advocate for the cuts.
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Allen criticized the department as a bloated bureaucracy that has ballooned state and local administrative ranks with “thousands of rules and restrictions,” despite declining student enrollment. “It’s pure insanity,” she added, arguing that the federal footprint hampers teachers and undermines students.
“It’s become a cash cow for every university, non-profit, and research institution that has time and money to apply for grants and contracts, many of which do nothing to support students and do everything to counter great education for all students. Ending incessant federal interference will free up state and local leaders to foster more opportunities to give schools and educators true flexibility and innovation to address the needs of students, wherever they are educated,” added Allen.
The administration framed the cuts as a purge of wasteful spending, targeting programs deemed ineffective or redundant.
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Allen pointed to the department’s role as a “cash cow” for universities, nonprofits, and research outfits, claiming many grants and contracts “do nothing to support students and do everything to counter great education.”
She hailed the rollback as a chance to redirect remaining federal funds—those not bound by law—to follow students to their chosen schools, public or private, fostering flexibility and innovation.
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