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McMahon expressed appreciation for the departing employees but framed the move as a necessary step toward reform. “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 mass dismissals were described as part of the department’s “final mission,” signaling that this may be just the beginning of a full-scale shutdown.
The restructuring affects every division within the department, with some areas facing significant overhauls. However, essential services such as student loan programs, Pell Grants, competitive grants, and other legally mandated programs will continue.
Before Trump took office, the Department of Education employed approximately 4,133 workers. That number has now plummeted to 2,183 as of Tuesday. The sharp reduction includes nearly 600 employees who took voluntary resignation or retirement over the past seven weeks.
“Pursuant to regulatory requirements and the Department’s collective bargaining agreement, all impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9th, as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service,” the agency’s release noted.
Trump has consistently campaigned on the promise of shutting down the Department of Education, a move that aligns with Republican priorities for decades.
“I want to close up Department of Education, move education back to the states,” Trump stated in August, as reported by Fox News.
He has argued that shifting control to individual states would yield better outcomes for students. “Of the 50 [states], I would bet that 35 would do great,” he said. “And 15 of them or, you know, 20 of them will be as good as Norway. You know, Norway is considered great.”
In an interview with CNN, McMahon confirmed that Tuesday’s layoffs mark the first step toward dismantling the agency entirely.
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“[A]ctually it is, because that was the president’s mandate as directed to me clearly is to shut down the Department of Education,” she said.
McMahon justified the move as an effort to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and improve efficiency. “The layoffs on Tuesday were meant to eliminate ‘bureaucratic bloat,’” she explained.
With the Department of Education now at half its former size, the Trump administration appears to be making significant strides toward its ultimate goal. Whether the department will be completely dismantled remains to be seen, but Tuesday’s firings send a clear message: Washington’s grip on education is loosening, and the states may soon reclaim control.
