More than 1,300 Department of Education employees were fired on Tuesday. A terse email told staff to stay home.
Washington offices will remain locked on Wednesday for “security reasons.” James Hairfield from DOE’s Security Office warned, “Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12th, for any reason.” He also ordered workers to take their laptops home.
A senior DOE official announced, “Today we are beginning the process to cut the total number of staff at the Department of Education roughly in half.”
In total, 1,315 employees have been laid off. Nearly 600 staffers had already left through voluntary buyouts and resignation programs. Last month, 63 probationary employees with less than a year’s service were also let go. The cuts target 131 full teams. Remaining employees – 2,183 in all – will work from home until the process wraps up on March 21st. Each fired worker gets 90 days of pay and benefits plus severance based on years of service.
Critics argue this move is more political than practical. Despite over $1 trillion in federal spending, student test scores have fallen. “This is a travesty,” said one leading education advocate. “Cutting staff now only harms our children and our future.” Many fear that the action paves the way for a full-scale dismantling of the Department of Education—a promise Trump made during his campaign.
The official defended the cuts. “We have an incredible leader in Secretary McMahon,” they said. “Her experience in restructuring and cutting bureaucracy is exactly what we need.” The plan aims to “streamline” the agency and shift more power to the states. In December, President Trump promised to “virtually close” the DOE. An executive order is reportedly in the works to push this agenda further.
However, closing the department would require congressional approval and at least 60 Senate votes—a steep hill to climb.
Union leaders and Democratic lawmakers are outraged. “This is not about saving money or improving education,” one union leader stated. “It’s a reckless assault on public education.” As the nation watches, many wonder if this reduction in force is a calculated effort to weaken federal oversight of America’s schools.
The fallout from today’s decision may reshape the landscape of U.S. education. Critics fear that this is only the beginning of a broader attack on public education values. The coming weeks will reveal more about the true cost of this dramatic shakeup.
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It\’s about time something was done, way too many who are to be working are not even at work
Add another 700 to be fired on top of that and then FIX the rest of Ed. Dept…
I don’t see how that can hurt our children They are already on the bottom of the pile Our nation is a disgrace when it comes to education The children can not read write or do math knows absolutely nothing about the founding of our nation Just ask any question on the street to high schoolers and you get a blank stare or embarrassment
Bad parents/drug abuse/Democrats are 3/4s of the problem… teachers fight an uphill battle to educate…
If the numbers of staff couldn’t get it done then they need to go. They get off better than other employees that lose their jobs. They don’t get 90 days wages they have to fight with unemployment to get their money
Y85cadu@aol.com
This is not about saving money or improving education,” one union leader stated. “It’s a reckless assault on public education.”
How have you improved education with proven decline in education.
About time the fat got cut! No one from the top down was doing anything to improve our schools. Kids can’t even sign their names. This needs to be put back in the state’s hands where the teachers are, and make them perform to a higher standard.