The U.S. Department of Education is undergoing a dramatic downsizing, slashing its staff from around 4,133 employees to roughly 2,183—a reduction of nearly fifty percent.
Announced on Tuesday, this overhaul will eliminate more than 1,300 positions, and close to 600 workers have already opted for voluntary buyouts over the past two months.
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
“I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
The Department insists it can still handle its core duties—student loans, Pell Grants, and special education funding—even with a leaner staff.
The cuts will affect every agency department, and some will undergo serious reorganization to continue effectively serving schools and families.
Affected employees will get a bit of breathing room: they’ll shift to administrative leave on March 21, 2025, drawing full pay and benefits until June 9, 2025, with severance or retirement packages to follow, depending on their years of service.
This tracks with a February 2025 directive from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management, which nudged federal agencies to shed staff through attrition and nix roles that aren’t mandated by law.
This initiative is part of a larger push under President Trump’s administration, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in the mix, which aims to shrink federal operations.
Some see this as a trial run for dismantling the agency entirely—a Republican talking point that’s gained steam with Project 2025’s roadmap, though Congress would need to greenlight any full shutdown, per Reuters.
Not everyone’s cheering. Sheria Smith, president of AFGE Local 252, which represents over 2,800 department workers, fired back: “We will fight these draconian cuts and urge all Americans to stand up and contact their Members of Congress,” she told NBC News on March 11.
Still, the Department’s holding the line that it won’t drop the ball on must-do programs.