US education department to lay off 1,300 people as Trump vows to close agency

Firings announced Tuesday as administration decried as detached from how Americans live'

The US Department of Education intends to lay off nearly half of its workforce. The layoffs of 1,300 people were announced by the department on Tuesday and described by the education secretary, Linda McMahon, as a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system".

In a post on X, McMahon said: Today's [reduction in force] reflects our commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers."