With mass layoffs, McMahon and Trump begin mission to end Education Department

On Tuesday, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced massive layoffs, a move toward the department's eventual dissolution per President Donald Trump's order, as the Federal News Network reported.

“His directive to me, clearly, is to shut down the Department of Education, which we know we’ll have to work with Congress to get that accomplished. But what we did today was to take the first step of eliminating what I think is bureaucratic bloat,” McMahon said during an interview on Fox News.

According to the department's statement, the announced reduction in personnel would result in the termination of nearly 50% of employees.

Current projections claim that Department of Education employment would decrease from more than 4,100 to approximately 2,200 if the Trump admin's plan is put into action.

From Lawmakers

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said that he has spoken with McMahon about the layoffs that were announced as part of the department's "final mission," and he received a guarantee that the change would not have a negative impact on "statutory obligations."

“This action is aimed at fulfilling the admin’s goal of addressing redundancy and inefficiency in the federal government,” Cassidy posted on social media.

McMahon stated on Fox News that the department would comply with mandates, including those for programs such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The education secretary said that it was her objective to eventually increase the funds allowed to flow to states through block grants, among other things, making them less reliant on federal requirements.

Additional Considerations

Some lawmakers, namely those on the left, have been vocal in criticizing the announcement. The politicians in question have not been assuaged by McMahon's admission that the Education Department's closure would require congressional authorization.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) the top Democrat on both the Appropriations Committee and the subcommittee that regulates the Education Department's expenditures, termed the personnel reductions "illegal."

“The Department of Education — created by an act of Congress, funded by appropriations bills passed by Congress and signed into law — ensures that, no matter the wealth their family does or does not have, or whether they have a disability or other disadvantage, every single child has the opportunity to obtain an education,” DeLauro said in a statement.

“Today’s staff eliminations are illegal, and they are a slap in the face to the dedicated public servants who work to make sure American children have access to a quality education.”