US Education Department to Cut Staffing in Response to Trump’s Push for Elimination | Donald Trump News

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon states that the administration will collaborate with Congress to eliminate the department.

The United States Department of Education has revealed plans to lay off nearly half of its workforce as President Donald Trump seeks to honor his campaign pledge to disband the agency.

On Tuesday, the department announced it would decrease its employee count to approximately 2,183, beginning with administrative leave for staff starting March 21.

Despite the layoffs, the department assured it would maintain “all statutory programs” under its authority, including student loans and funding for students with special needs.

These job cuts are part of a broader initiative for reduction carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at radically streamlining the federal bureaucracy.

“The current reduction in force underscores the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are utilized where they are most needed: with students, parents, and educators,” stated Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.

“I truly value the efforts of the dedicated public servants who have contributed to the Department. This is a pivotal move toward revitalizing the excellence of the United States education system.”

In an interview with Fox News later that day, McMahon, who previously served as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, affirmed that the layoffs are a precursor to dismantling the department.

“Indeed, this aligns with the president’s mandate,” she explained.

“His clear directive to me is to eliminate the Department of Education, which we will need to work with Congress to achieve.”

McMahon indicated that the cuts are focused on addressing “bureaucratic bloat,” while ensuring that the department’s “outward-facing programs,” such as grants, remain intact.

Trump’s campaign was centered on eliminating the Department of Education, which he claimed had been overrun by “radicals, zealots, and Marxists,” advocating for the transfer of educational responsibilities to individual states and local school districts.

During an interaction with reporters last month, the president mentioned that he had instructed McMahon to “put herself out of a job.”

Currently, education in the US is primarily managed by states and local entities, with the federal government contributing only about 8 percent to the overall funding for elementary and secondary education.

‘Wrecking ball’

The department was established in 1979 by the US Congress and former President Jimmy Carter, tasked primarily with delivering financial aid to schools, overseeing student loan programs, and enforcing civil rights protections.

Since its inception, the department has faced criticism from Republicans who argue that educational policy should be managed at the state and local levels.

Former President Ronald Reagan consistently advocated for the department’s dismantling but ultimately could not garner the necessary Congressional support before leaving office in 1989.

The National Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the US, denounced the Trump administration’s decision, claiming it is taking a “wrecking ball” to the futures of approximately 50 million students.

“The true casualties will be our most vulnerable students,” National Education Association President Becky Pringle declared in a statement.

“Dismantling the Department of Education will lead to overcrowded classrooms, cut job training programs, inflate the costs of higher education, strip away services for students with disabilities, and undermine protections for student civil rights.”