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UPDATE: Nearly Half of Department of Education Employees Laid Off in Reduction of Force by Secretary Linda McMahon

March 11, 2025

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon ordered Reduction in Force layoffs targeting roughly half the department’s over 4,000 employees, effective March 21. Those laid off will receive full pay and benefits until June 9th, as well as severance pay or retirement benefits. About 600 of the workers had previously accepted buyout offers.

U.S. Department of Education Building, Washington, D.C.,, image via DOE

President Donald Trump campaigned on shutting down the Education Department. Trump recently said he is looking at signing an executive order starting the process, however complete elimination of the department would require Congressional approval.

Earlier Tuesday, the department sent out an email telling employees to take their laptops and vacate their offices by 6 p.m. because the headquarters in Washington, D.C. and regional offices would be shut down for “security “reasons” until Thursday morning when office hours would resume.

McMahon reposted a White House video clip Tuesday evening saying she was fulfilling President Trump’s order to put herself out of a job, “I think @POTUS made it very clear, that he thought that the Department of Education should totally go away — and he said that my successful job will be to put myself OUT of a job. I’m working to fulfill that mandate that he gave to me… but in the meantime, we want to make sure that the programs — everything that is put in place — continues to operate in a more efficient way.”

McMahon also posted a statement on X, “As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce. Today’s RIF reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers. I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.

Text of statement on the layoffs released at 6 p.m.

U.S. Department of Education Initiates Reduction in Force

As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce. Impacted Department staff will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21st.

“Today’s reduction in force 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,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”

The Department of Education will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.

All divisions within the Department are impacted by the reduction, with some divisions requiring significant reorganization to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers.

Background

When President Trump was inaugurated, the Department’s workforce stood at 4,133 workers. After today’s actions, the Department’s workforce will total roughly 2,183 workers. Included in the reduction in force are nearly 600 employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement over the last seven weeks, including:

259 employees accepted the Deferred Resignation Program
313 employees accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment

Remaining employees impacted by the reduction in force will be placed on administrative leave beginning next Friday, March 21. Pursuant to regulatory requirements and the Department’s collective bargaining agreement, all impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9th, as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service.

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