On Tuesday, the Department of Education announced it was firing more than 1,300 workers as part of broader federal workforce cuts. The cuts reduce the agency's employees by half, following 572 employees who took buyout offers and 63 provisional workers who were fired in February.
"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," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a Tuesday press release. "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."
It's unclear how the cuts will affect the department. McMahon framed the cuts as an attempt to increase efficiency and better serve students. However, considering that McMahon said last week that President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order aimed at eventually shuttering the department, it's hard not to see the layoffs as the first step in a plan to effectively abolish it. While it would take an act of Congress to formally scrap the Education Department, neutering its workforce might be the next best thing.
