The Trump administration plans to cut nearly half of the Department of Education’s staff, as part of a strategy to dismantle the agency. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, just five days into her role, stated this reduction aims to eliminate “bureaucratic bloat.” As a first step toward fulfilling Trump’s orders, about 1,300 employees will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21, receiving full pay until June. The department had around 4,100 employees at the start of Trump’s term, with nearly 600 having already resigned or retired in a broader effort to reduce government workforce.
New Delhi:
The administration of Donald Trump has revealed its intention to reduce the workforce at the Department of Education by nearly 50%. This move aligns with Trump’s objective to dismantle the department.
“As part of the Department of Education’s ultimate goals, the Department today began a workforce reduction affecting almost half of its employees,” stated a message reported by the News agency AFP.
According to AFP, Education Secretary Linda McMahon remarked that the choice to reduce her staff—only five days after assuming office—was a necessary step in response to Trump’s order from the previous month to “put herself out of a job.” “His directive to me is unequivocal: to shut down the Department of Education, which we clearly must navigate with Congress to achieve. However, what we initiated today was the first stage in removing what I believe is unnecessary bureaucracy,” stated McMahon, formerly the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment.
The department announced that the employees affected will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21, during which they will receive full compensation until June 9.
The department had approximately 4,100 staff members when Trump assumed office. Nearly 600 employees have chosen to resign or retire in recent weeks as part of a broader initiative to decrease the workforce, led by billionaire businessman Elon Musk. Furthermore, an additional 1,300 will be put on administrative leave on March 21, although they will continue to receive pay until June, according to the statement, which emphasized that no sector would be exempt from these reductions.