DOE funding reductions by Trump signify a prelude; Congress now has the responsibility to further curtail budgets | Riley Gaines
The U.S. Department of Education (DoE) is currently undergoing significant changes, following a series of decisions by the Trump administration and the Supreme Court. The department, which previously employed around 4,000 staffers, has seen a drastic reduction in its workforce, with the Supreme Court giving approval for layoffs that will reduce the department by nearly a third.
The layoffs, which have resulted in the loss of approximately 1,300–1,400 employees, were initiated by the Trump administration in March 2025. Seven of the department’s 12 regional civil rights offices have also been closed. The Supreme Court cleared the way for these layoffs on July 14, 2025, lifting a federal court injunction that had temporarily halted the job cuts.
The administration has framed the layoffs and restructuring as efforts to improve efficiency and accountability. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the reduction in force is intended to direct resources “where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.” However, critics and lower court rulings assert that the true intent is to fulfill President Trump’s long-standing campaign promise to abolish the Department of Education.
The Department of Education has been a subject of controversy in recent years, with critics arguing that it has prioritized politics over education. In 2016, the department threatened to withhold funding unless schools allowed boys into girls' locker rooms, bathrooms, and sports teams. The department has also been criticised for dictating what children learn, the values they are taught, and who can speak in the classroom.
In response to these criticisms, the administration has advocated for a shift towards local control of education. This approach is seen as providing more freedom, better accountability, and real opportunities for students. The department's executive order aims to return control of education to the states, a move that has been welcomed by many as opening the door for real reform in the Department of Education.
The department's main tasks include writing regulations, managing student loans, and overseeing grants. Essential services within the Department of Education will remain intact, with student loan management being transferred to the Treasury Department. A simplified repayment and collection system for student loans is already in motion.
The future of America is closely linked to the success of its children. The layoffs in the Department of Education mark the first move towards dismantling the department and pulling education out of Washington's control, giving it back to families, teachers, and local leaders. Congress has the power to eliminate the Department of Education completely, and the Supreme Court's approval for these changes sets the stage for a potential restructuring of the federal education system.
- The Trump administration's policy and legislation on education-and-self-development have stirred debates, with critics arguing that the Department of Education's focus has shifted from education to politics.
- The Supreme Court's approval for layoffs and the closure of regional civil rights offices within the Department of Education has raised concerns about the administration's intentions for education-and-self-development, with some arguing it's a step towards abolishing the department.
- Amidst the controversy, the general-news media has been closely monitoring the learning outcomes as the administration advocates for local control of education, suggesting potential changes in the policy-and-legislation landscape of education-and-self-development in the U.S.
