Trump Administration Slashes Education Department Workforce by Half

In January, when Trump became president, the U.S. Education Department workforce reached half its size due to laying off 1,300 employees. Secretary Linda McMahon explained the workforce reductions as steps to work more effectively.

The reduction affected 1,315 staff members through various forms of discharge that included taking 572 people voluntarily out of work plus terminating 63 people still on probation. The Office of Civil Rights operations in New York San Francisco and Boston extensively reduced their activities. People fear that current civil rights case delays will only get worse because of the latest campus protests.

Officials from unions and teacher associations strongly object to this action. Sheria Smith leads up government workers organizing Education Department employees determined to defend the staff reductions and National Education Association president Becky Pringle expresses fear that disadvantaged students will bear the most harm. According to Secretary McMahon, the adjustments would not eliminate life-sustaining initiatives for student loans or Pell Grants and services for disabled students.