Trump and Musk Plan to Lay Off Half of Education Department Staff, Cutting Funding to High-Poverty Schools for Tax Cuts for Billionaires

The Trump Administration, in collaboration with Elon Musk, is reportedly initiating a major reduction in the Department of Education's workforce, with plans to lay off half of its staff. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy to dismantle the department, which provides essential funding to public schools, including support for students with disabilities and federal student loans. Critics, including various Democratic lawmakers, argue that these actions will severely harm students and public education, while benefiting wealthy individuals through tax cuts. Lawmakers have accused the administration of prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires over the educational needs of children, claiming that the cuts will undermine the quality of education across the nation.