Trump and Musk Begin 50% Layoffs at U.S. Department of Education Tuesday Evening Under Linda McMahon

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are initiating significant layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, with plans to cut nearly 50% of its workforce. This move is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the department, aligning with Trump's long-standing goal to eliminate it entirely. The layoffs are scheduled to begin on Tuesday evening, with the department's offices closing for security reasons. Employees have been instructed to take their laptops and work from home on Wednesday, indicating a major operational shift. These actions are seen as steps toward fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to abolish the Department of Education and redistribute its functions and resources to the states. Critics argue that these cuts will adversely affect students, particularly those in high-poverty schools, as the department is responsible for distributing funding to such institutions. The layoffs are part of a wider effort by Trump and Musk to reduce the size of the federal government, with similar actions taken at other federal agencies. The Department of Education's workforce, which currently stands at around 4,400 employees, will be significantly reduced as a result of these layoffs. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is tasked with overseeing this process.