President Donald Trump is expected to dismiss a massive number of employees at the Department of Education by the end of the day Tuesday, marking one of the most sweeping reductions in the agency’s history.
“Per person familiar, ‘reduction in force’ notices for the Education Department is expected to go out today at 6 p.m.,” reported Semafor’s Shelby Talcott. “Nearly half of the department is expected to be eliminated.”
More: VP J.D. Vance’s Cousin Warns: U.S. Is Letting Russia Exploit Ukraine Ceasefire
More: Speaker Mike Johnson’s Chief of Staff Arrested for DUI After Crashing Into SUV
In anticipation of the layoffs, an order earlier in the day directed that all Education Department offices in Washington, D.C. would be closed on Wednesday for an unspecified security reason. Staff members were instructed to vacate the premises by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Trump, who recently confirmed World Wrestling Entertainment magnate and Republican megadonor Linda McMahon as the new Secretary of Education, has long prioritized eliminating the department as part of his broader policy agenda. The move aligns with the goals of far-right activists who argue that the department’s civil rights mission interferes with state control over education policy.
Last week, reports surfaced that Trump was preparing to issue an executive order instructing McMahon to begin facilitating the department’s closure. While that order was anticipated as early as last Thursday, it has yet to be issued. However, dismantling the Department of Education entirely would require congressional approval, a nearly impossible feat given the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for such action.
More: Ex-SSA Chief Warns Trump Is Dismantling Social Security, Pushing System…
More: Trump’s Tariff Push Deepens GOP Divide, Sparks Backlash from Conservatives
The Trump administration has engaged in similar mass purges across multiple federal departments and agencies, often facing backlash for cutting essential personnel without fully assessing the impact of their roles. In many cases, agencies have been forced to hastily rehire employees who were terminated without proper evaluation of their necessity.
As the Education Department braces for these layoffs, the political battle over the agency’s future is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
For You:
- Trump Slams The Atlantic, Calls Magazine ‘Third Rate’ in Online Rant
- Justin Bieber Admits He’s ‘Drowning’ in Pain as He Breaks Silence on Past Struggles
- Semisonic Slams Trump Admin for Using ‘Closing Time’ in Controversial Deportation Video
- Death of 19-Year-Old Twin Brothers Ruled Murder-Suicide, But Family Demands Answers
- Trump Weighs Recognizing Crimea as Russian in Bombshell Ukraine Deal Report