On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education announced a dramatic reduction in its workforce, cutting nearly 50% of its staff as part of President Donald Trump’s broader agenda to downsize the federal government. The move affects approximately 2,100 employees, reducing the department's workforce from 4,133 to around 2,183 employees. The layoffs are part of what Secretary of Education Linda McMahon described as the department’s “final mission,” referencing Trump’s long-standing goal to abolish the agency. McMahon stated that the reductions reflect a commitment to “efficiency, accountability, and ensuring resources are directed where they matter most, to students, parents, and teachers”.