The Education Department slashes its workforce by nearly 50%, triggering temporary office closures and leaving thousands of federal employees facing an uncertain future amid President Trump’s plan to eventually abolish the agency entirely.
Quick Takes
- Nearly 1,950 Education Department employees (about 47% of the workforce) have been terminated, with affected staff placed on administrative leave starting March 21.
- Impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, plus severance or retirement benefits based on service length.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon cited poor student outcomes despite significant federal spending as justification for the cuts.
- The department has closed offices nationwide for “security reasons” while plans for a complete agency shutdown advance.
- President Trump’s administration is offering early retirement and buyouts up to $25,000 as part of broader federal workforce reductions.
Massive Workforce Reduction Underway
The Department of Education has implemented a sweeping reduction-in-force (RIF) that eliminates nearly half of its staff positions. The workforce has decreased from 4,133 employees in January to approximately 2,183 currently. This dramatic reduction terminates over 1,300 department employees through the RIF process, following nearly 600 voluntary departures through programs like the Deferred Resignation Program and various buyout initiatives. An additional 63 probationary employees were fired last month, contributing to the substantial workforce reduction.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the reduction as a critical step toward improving America’s education system, stating it represents a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.” The department has said that the cuts are intended to eliminate teams deemed redundant or unnecessary for its functioning. Employees affected by the cuts will receive administrative leave starting March 21, with full pay and benefits continuing through June 9.
BREAKING: The Education Department is about to initiate layoffs of about 50% of its workforce of 4,400 employees beginning Tuesday evening.
President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating the entire agency and returning education to the states.
Onward!https://t.co/cbcMzoTOjC
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 11, 2025
Security Concerns Lead to Office Closures
The department also temporarily closed all its offices in the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond on Wednesday, citing security concerns as the workforce reduction takes effect. Department official James Hairfield noted in an email that the offices would be “closed for security reasons.” Employees with telework agreements have been instructed to work from home during the closure period, while all staff were directed to take their laptops home in preparation for extended remote work arrangements.
The security measures highlight the tension surrounding the workforce reduction, as thousands of career federal employees face unexpected job losses. The department has arranged for affected employees to receive “substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service” to ease the transition.
Part of Broader Plan to Dismantle the Department
The workforce reduction aligns with President Trump’s campaign promise to abolish the Department of Education entirely and return educational authority to the states. Reports indicate that Trump may soon sign an executive order outlining steps to close the federal agency, though complete abolition would ultimately require congressional approval. A draft executive order characterizes federal education programs as a failed experiment, stating the federal approach “has failed our children, our teachers, and our families.”
“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,” McMahon said of the cuts.
A senior department official expressed confidence in McMahon’s leadership, noting, “We have an incredible leader in Secretary McMahon, who has built a multibillion dollar global business and has handled restructuring several times before.” The administration has cited poor student test scores despite significant federal education spending as justification for the radical changes to the department’s structure and eventual elimination.
Financial Impact on Federal Employees
The Trump administration is offering early retirement options and buyouts up to $25,000 as part of its strategy to downsize the federal workforce. Employees who applied for Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments have received acceptance notices, providing a financial cushion for those willing to depart voluntarily. Those terminated through the RIF process will receive administrative leave with full pay and benefits until June 9, followed by severance packages based on years of service, providing some short-term financial stability during their transition to new employment.
McMahon has framed the department’s final mission as eliminating “bureaucratic bloat,” telling employees, “Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education — a momentous final mission — quickly and responsibly.” The reorganization affects all divisions within the department, with widespread staffing cuts and potential restructuring of remaining operations as the administration works toward the department’s eventual closure.
