Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon ordered Discount in Drive layoffs focusing on roughly half the division’s over 4,000 workers, efficient March 21. These laid off will obtain full pay and advantages till June ninth, in addition to severance pay or retirement advantages. About 600 of the employees had beforehand accepted buyout presents.
President Donald Trump campaigned on shutting down the Schooling Division. Trump lately mentioned he’s signing an govt order beginning the method, nevertheless full elimination of the division would require Congressional approval.
Earlier Tuesday, the department sent out an email telling workers to take their laptops and vacate their workplaces by 6 p.m. as a result of the headquarters in Washington, D.C. and regional workplaces could be shut down for “safety “causes” till Thursday morning when workplace hours would resume.
McMahon reposted a White Home video clip Tuesday night saying she was fulfilling President Trump’s order to place herself out of a job, “I feel @POTUS made it very clear, that he thought that the Division of Schooling ought to completely go away — and he mentioned that my profitable job shall be to place myself OUT of a job. I’m working to meet that mandate that he gave to me… however within the meantime, we need to guarantee that the applications — all the pieces that’s put in place — continues to function in a extra environment friendly method.”
.@EDSecMcMahon: “I feel @POTUS made it very clear, that he thought that the Division of Schooling ought to completely go away — and he mentioned that my profitable job shall be to place myself OUT of a job. I’m working to meet that mandate that he gave to me… however within the meantime, we… pic.twitter.com/gNLbLzEzn9
— Speedy Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 11, 2025
McMahon additionally posted a press release on X, “As a part of the Division of Schooling’s remaining mission, the Division in the present day initiated a discount in power (RIF) impacting practically 50% of the Division’s workforce. Immediately’s RIF displays our dedication to effectivity, accountability, and making certain that sources are directed the place they matter most: to college students, mother and father, and lecturers. I admire the work of the devoted public servants and their contributions to the Division. It is a important step towards restoring the greatness of the US schooling system.
As a part of the Division of Schooling’s remaining mission, the Division in the present day initiated a discount in power (RIF) impacting practically 50% of the Division’s workforce.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 11, 2025
I admire the work of the devoted public servants and their contributions to the Division. It is a important step towards restoring the greatness of the US schooling system.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 11, 2025
Text of statement on the layoffs launched at 6 p.m.
U.S. Division of Schooling Initiates Discount in Drive
As a part of the Division of Schooling’s remaining mission, the Division in the present day initiated a discount in power (RIF) impacting practically 50% of the Division’s workforce. Impacted Division employees shall be positioned on administrative depart starting Friday, March twenty first.
“Immediately’s discount in power displays the Division of Schooling’s dedication to effectivity, accountability, and making certain that sources are directed the place they matter most: to college students, mother and father, and lecturers,” mentioned Secretary of Schooling Linda McMahon. “I admire the work of the devoted public servants and their contributions to the Division. It is a important step towards restoring the greatness of the US schooling system.”
The Division of Schooling will proceed to ship on all statutory applications that fall below the company’s purview, together with method funding, scholar loans, Pell Grants, funding for particular wants college students, and aggressive grantmaking.
All divisions throughout the Division are impacted by the discount, with some divisions requiring important reorganization to raised serve college students, mother and father, educators, and taxpayers.
Background
When President Trump was inaugurated, the Division’s workforce stood at 4,133 employees. After in the present day’s actions, the Division’s workforce will whole roughly 2,183 employees. Included within the discount in power are practically 600 workers who accepted voluntary resignation alternatives and retirement during the last seven weeks, together with:
259 workers accepted the Deferred Resignation Program
313 workers accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive PaymentRemaining workers impacted by the discount in power shall be positioned on administrative depart starting subsequent Friday, March 21. Pursuant to regulatory necessities and the Division’s collective bargaining settlement, all impacted workers will obtain full pay and advantages till June ninth, in addition to substantial severance pay or retirement advantages primarily based upon their size of service.
