On March 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced a massive reduction in force. The most recent cuts, coupled with the previously accepted employee “buyouts,” has eliminated almost 1,900 employees, which drops the employee count from 4,133 when the new administration took over to the current number of 2,183. To date, 600 employees took the buyout and 1,300 will be put on administrative leave beginning March 21.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon lauded the move, stating that it “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.” She also called it a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”

Many believe that gutting the agency is a first step in its complete elimination, which would require congressional action. Critics of the move say it will have a significant impact on public education throughout the country, creating a chaotic situation. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the nation’s second-largest teachers union stated that “Denuding an agency so it cannot function effectively is the most cowardly way of dismantling it.”

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