Timeline

March 13, 2025 – Nearly two dozen state attorneys general have sued the Trump administration over the mass firings at the Department of Education. 

March 11, 2025 – The Department of Education announced the layoffs of 1,300 employees. 

On March 11, the Department of Education announced the layoffs of around 1,300 employees, nearly halving the agency’s workforce. This is in addition to the approximately 600 employees who took voluntary resignation or early retirement in the weeks prior. The layoffs and early departures impact all divisions within the agency, including the National Center for Education Statistics, which is the primary federal entity that collects and reports data on education in the United States.    

Education Secretary Linda McMahon described the layoffs as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce the federal workforce and a first step in eliminating the department. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing an executive order to “abolish” the Department of Education, which would need Congressional approval.  

Impact: The Department of Education helps public schools reach their education goals and fills in crucial funding gaps in local education. Nearly 90% of K-12 students attend public schools. By cutting the Department of Education’s workforce in half, the Trump administration has made it harder for the agency to fulfill its mission.