The Trump administration is moving closer to its long-standing goal of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education amid a prolonged government shutdown. The administration aims to shed personnel and transfer operations to other departments, a strategy that reflects conservative aspirations to diminish federal oversight in education.
As part of this effort, the Department of Education has already reduced its workforce by half this year and is now seeking to lay off an additional 465 employees. This latest round of cuts is expected to significantly impact various offices, including those responsible for overseeing special education programs and civil rights enforcement. “There’s something opportunistic about what we’re watching right now,” stated Jim Blew, a former senior official at the Education Department during the first Trump administration. “These guys have very clear goals. When you give them an opportunity to achieve them, they go full bore.”
A federal judge temporarily halted these layoffs, but critics argue that the administration’s actions reflect a broader strategy to undermine the agency without requiring congressional approval. Historically, legislative efforts to close the department have stalled, primarily due to the need for bipartisan support in the Senate.
Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Education has eliminated or delayed several grant programs and canceled contracts. This pattern of erosion raises concerns regarding the agency’s capability to fulfill its responsibilities. Linda McMahon, the current Secretary of Education, acknowledged the necessity of congressional action to formally close the department. Yet, she has also suggested that the ongoing shutdown has forced a reevaluation of federal responsibilities that might not be essential for the American populace.
In a statement on social media, McMahon remarked, “Two weeks in, millions of American students are still going to school, teachers are getting paid, and schools are operating as normal. It confirms what the President has said: The federal Department of Education is unnecessary.”
If the layoffs proceed, they would devastate the Office for Civil Rights, which has already suffered substantial cuts this year. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which allocates $15 billion for students with disabilities, along with the $18 billion Title I program supporting high-poverty schools, would also face significant setbacks. Additionally, smaller programs aimed at charter schools and historical Black colleges and universities have already been affected.
Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, criticized the administration’s tactics, stating, “The fact that Trump is gleefully using the shutdown as a pretext to hurt students is appalling.” She emphasized that the administration has the power to prevent these layoffs, highlighting the impact on students who rely on special education services.
Legal challenges have emerged as various stakeholders contest the administration’s actions, with some moves being temporarily halted in court. Advocacy groups focused on special education are mobilizing parents to advocate against the cuts, which threaten essential oversight and support services.
The ramifications of these layoffs may take time to manifest, as federal funding continues to flow for educational services, including those for students with disabilities. However, layoffs affecting the special education office, which would impact 121 employees, could hinder the department’s ability to oversee the allocation of funds effectively.
Historically, the Office for Civil Rights has dealt with a backlog of discrimination cases, and recent staffing reductions have exacerbated these challenges. The department has already closed several regional offices and laid off a significant portion of its staff, raising questions about its future capacity to manage civil rights investigations.
In light of these developments, it appears that the administration is pursuing a broader strategy to transfer responsibilities from the Education Department to other government entities. Notably, in May, the department signed an agreement to transfer nearly $2.7 billion in career and technical education grants to the Labor Department. Additionally, discussions have reportedly taken place regarding relocating the student loan program to the Treasury Department.
McMahon has expressed interest in shifting the special education office to the Department of Health and Human Services and suggested that Pell Grants could be managed by the Labor Department. These initiatives indicate a concerted effort to dismantle the Education Department’s functions and redistribute them across the government.
As the administration navigates these changes, the implications for American education remain uncertain. Many observers believe that the extent of the layoffs and the shift in responsibilities reflect a significant move toward reducing the federal role in education, a goal that has long been championed by conservative factions.
