The US Department of Education has laid off over 460 employees, cutting roughly 20% of its workforce amid the ongoing government shutdown. The move comes as the department struggles to maintain services after earlier rounds of staff reductions and amidst an extended funding impasse in Washington.This significant workforce reduction follows a series of layoffs and buyouts earlier in the year that had already halved the department’s staffing. The latest firings were disclosed in a court filing by the Justice Department on October 10, coinciding with the White House’s renewed push to apply pressure on congressional Democrats over the shutdown.Massive layoffs hit critical officesAmong the most affected were divisions responsible for key educational oversight functions, including the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. This office plays a vital role in ensuring states annually assess whether students are meeting grade-level standards in subjects such as reading and maths.The layoffs also impacted the Office of Communications and Outreach, which engages with state and local partners. According to AFGE Local 252, the union representing Education Department workers, nearly the entire state and local engagement team was dismissed. Other offices involved with special education funding and higher education also faced terminations, with many employees learning of their fate late on a Friday or over the weekend, the union reported.Impact on education services and programmesSchools and related programmes have already felt disruptions from earlier staffing cuts. The department has faced challenges maintaining operations, particularly in areas linked to student loan services, college financial aid, and civil rights enforcement. Nearly 90% of Education Department employees have also been furloughed due to the shutdown.Rachel Gittleman, president of AFGE Local 252 and a former employee, described the layoffs as illegal. “Once again, the Trump administration is acting as though they have impunity to cut staff from an already lean, efficient agency,” she said in a statement, as quoted by USA Today. Gittleman noted that more than 1,000 employees were fired in March, many holding roles required by law, forcing leadership to reassign staff to fill critical gaps.Previous cuts and cautious rehiringThe Trump administration had already reduced the department’s workforce significantly in March through a mix of buyouts, layoffs, and incentivised retirements. After a legal challenge, the Supreme Court allowed most of those firings to proceed. Education Secretary Linda McMahon later acknowledged the cuts may have been excessive, indicating in congressional testimony that some staff had to be rehired. “Sometimes you cut a little in the muscle, and you realise it as you are continuing your programmes, and you can bring people back,” she said, as reported by USA Today.With the current layoffs layered on top of existing furloughs and previous staffing reductions, the Education Department’s ability to deliver essential student support services faces serious strain. The full effects on schools and families remain to be seen as the shutdown continues and funding remains unresolved.
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