The U.S. Department of Education is set to undergo a dramatic reduction in its workforce, with about 50% of its employees facing layoffs. This drastic measure will commence on Tuesday evening, according to information from three individuals briefed on the situation.
The decision comes amid broader efforts led by President Donald Trump and the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency to downsize federal government operations. These cuts are part of an ongoing strategy that has already seen similar reductions across other federal agencies.
On Tuesday, the Education Department preemptively closed its offices for what was described as “security reasons,” in a memo distributed to staff by James Hairfield, responsible for the department’s office of security, facilities, and logistics. The memo did not detail the security concerns but instructed employees to take their laptops and vacate the premises by 6 p.m. ET, with the offices expected to reopen on Thursday.
An executive order is reportedly being prepared, as mentioned last week by sources at CNN, which directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the dismantling of the department. This looming order has raised concerns among the department’s employees about their job security and the future of federal educational oversight.
The shutdown affected not only the headquarters in Washington, D.C., but also regional offices, marking a rare occurrence that veteran department staff cannot recall happening before, even during visits by significant VIPs.
For further details, visit the comprehensive report on CNN.
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This post was last modified on March 11, 2025