The US Department of Education recently underwent a drastic overhaul, laying off more than 460 employees – roughly 20% of its total workforce. This substantial reduction comes amidst an ongoing government shutdown and follows previous rounds of staffing cuts, creating a challenging environment for the department to maintain its crucial services.
The latest wave of firings was revealed in a Justice Department court filing on October 10th. This disclosure coincided with renewed efforts by the White House to pressure congressional Democrats over the funding impasse. This isn’t the first time the department has seen such cuts; earlier in the year, a combination of layoffs and buyouts had already reduced the staff by half.
Education Department cuts 20% of staff amid shutdown, risking student support. (AP Photo)
Massive Layoffs Cripple Critical Offices
Several key divisions responsible for vital educational oversight functions were hit hardest. Among them is the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, which plays an indispensable role in ensuring states annually assess whether students are meeting critical grade-level standards in subjects like reading and mathematics. The ability to monitor and support these fundamental educational benchmarks is now under severe threat.
The Office of Communications and Outreach, a crucial link for engaging with state and local educational partners, also saw significant cuts. According to AFGE Local 252, the union representing Education Department workers, nearly the entire state and local engagement team was dismissed. Other essential offices, particularly those handling special education funding and higher education initiatives, also faced terminations, with many employees receiving the news late on a Friday or over the weekend.
Widespread Impact on Education Services and Programs
Schools and various educational programs have already experienced disruptions due to previous staffing reductions. The department is grappling with significant challenges in maintaining its operations, particularly in critical areas like student loan services, college financial aid processing, and civil rights enforcement within educational institutions. Exacerbating the situation, nearly 90% of the Education Department’s remaining employees have been furloughed because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Rachel Gittleman, president of AFGE Local 252 and a former department employee, vehemently criticized the layoffs, labeling them as illegal. “Once again, the Trump administration is acting as though they have impunity to cut staff from an already lean, efficient agency,” she stated, as quoted by USA Today. Gittleman highlighted that over 1,000 employees were fired in March, many holding roles mandated by law, forcing leadership to scramble and reassign remaining staff to fill critical operational gaps.
Previous Reductions and Subsequent Rehiring
Prior to these recent events, the Trump administration had already initiated substantial workforce reductions in March through a combination of buyouts, layoffs, and incentivized retirements. While a legal challenge allowed most of those firings to proceed, Education Secretary Linda McMahon later admitted in congressional testimony that some cuts might have been excessive, leading to the rehiring of certain staff members. “Sometimes you cut a little in the muscle, and you realize it as you are continuing your programs, and you can bring people back,” she explained, as reported by USA Today.
With the latest layoffs stacked on top of existing furloughs and previous staff reductions, the US Education Department’s capacity to deliver essential student support services is under immense strain. The full repercussions for students, schools, and families remain uncertain as the government shutdown persists and the critical funding issues remain unresolved.
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