Lafayette, LA – The U.S. Department of Education is set to cut more than 1,300 jobs, a move that represents nearly half of its workforce. Education Secretary Linda McMahon confirmed the cuts via a post on X, describing them as part of the department’s “final mission” in line with the broader goal of reducing the federal workforce.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from various education advocates and policy experts, who argue that such reductions come at a time when U.S. students are already facing significant academic challenges. A recent report card on American education revealed that, on average, U.S. students are nearly half a grade level behind in both reading and math, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
However, experts like Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, assert that the struggles of students cannot be directly attributed to the Department of Education’s operations. Valant pointed to the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on school attendance as a major factor behind the academic decline. “Most obviously, it’s because of Covid and keeping kids out of school for too long,” he said, adding that other potential factors, such as increased smartphone usage and issues with curriculum, could also play a role.
Valant emphasized that the Department of Education’s responsibilities lie largely in providing oversight and support, rather than directly managing day-to-day classroom activities. The department administers federal funding, oversees financial aid programs such as FAFSA, funds educational research, and works to protect students’ civil rights. However, decisions about curriculum and staffing are typically made at the local or state level, not by federal authorities.
The cuts announced by the department will not affect essential operations like federal student aid, civil rights investigations, or other mandatory functions. However, education equity advocates, such as Wil Del Pilar, senior vice president at the think tank EdTrust, have expressed concerns about the broader implications of such a large-scale reduction in staff.
Del Pilar warned that while the cuts may not have an immediate impact, they could create significant challenges for the department in the near future. “I’m not even convinced that we can perform the functions, the basic functions that need to be performed, with the staffing that are left at the department currently,” he said. Del Pilar further stressed that vulnerable students who rely on the department’s resources, such as funding and protections, could feel the long-term effects of these staff reductions.
With the cuts expected to take effect in the coming months, education advocates worry that without the necessary resources and staff, the Department of Education may struggle to fulfill its responsibilities, ultimately undermining protections for the students who need them the most.
As the Trump administration continues its push to shrink the federal workforce, the future of the U.S. education system remains uncertain, with experts urging a closer examination of the long-term consequences these reductions may have on educational equity across the country.