U.S. Department of Education to Cut 2,000 Jobs Starting Tuesday Evening in Trump's Dismantling Plan

The U.S. Department of Education is set to undergo significant layoffs, with plans to reduce its workforce by nearly 50%. The department, which previously employed around 4,400 workers, will begin issuing 'reduction in force' notices on Tuesday, affecting approximately 2,000 employees. This move is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to dismantle the agency. Specifically, 1,315 employees will be fired, 572 have accepted separation packages, and 63 probationary workers were terminated last month. The layoffs are expected to start Tuesday evening, with the department closing its offices on Wednesday for security reasons. The reduction will leave the department with just 2,183 employees, down from 4,133 when President Trump took office. This drastic cut is aimed at reducing the federal government's footprint, with similar reductions anticipated across other federal agencies. The layoffs will impact various offices, including the Chicago office, where at least 50 employees, including the entire Office for Civil Rights and staff from Federal Student Aid, will be affected. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has stated that the layoffs are a step towards eliminating bureaucratic bloat and transferring the agency's authority to the states. Despite the significant staff reduction, department officials have assured that key functions such as the distribution of federal aid to schools, student loan management, and oversight of Pell Grants will continue uninterrupted. Laid-off workers will remain on the payroll for 90 days, receiving full pay and benefits, and will be given severance pay based on their years of service.