Trump Administration's Education Department Layoffs Target Key Agency Responsible for National Testing
Massive layoffs at the Department of Education eliminate nearly all staff at the National Center for Education Statistics amid concerns over the future of essential data collection.
The Department of Education's far-reaching layoffs have decimated a small statistical agency considered to be the "authoritative and trusted source" of information on the education system in the United States, four former employees familiar with the situation told ABC News.
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The Healey administration has estimated that Massachusetts could lose up to $2 billion in federal funds for education, a figure that includes support for elementary, secondary and higher education.
Massachusetts teachers slam Trump cuts to Department of Education
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The layoffs are the first step toward dismantling the department, a goal espoused by President Donald Trump and his education secretary, Linda McMahon.
What the Education Department layoffs could mean for students with disabilities
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Abolishing the department outright—or reducing it to a shell—would test the boundaries of presidential power and the executive branch’s relationship with Congress.
Closing time at the Department of Education
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The agency stated that the cuts will not affect programs under the department’s purview, such as student loans.
Trump Says Education Secretary McMahon Made Decisions on Mass Layoffs
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Mass layoffs at the temporarily shuttered Department of Education sent shockwaves through Washington D.C., but they could foretell even bigger things to come.
Department of Education layoffs could foreshadow what's to come - Washington Examiner
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Gutting it won’t affect what schools teach — that’s controlled at the state and local level — but, through understaffing, Trump can make it difficult for the department to enforce laws and help schools, districts, and anyone with a student loan.
The dismantling of the Education Department, briefly explained
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The Trump administration has drawn sharp criticism for its efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, particularly from American Federation of Teachers leader Randi Weingarten, who accused the administration of “getting rid of education” and “taking opportunities away from kids.”
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The cuts will not only affect the Department of Education but also the students who rely on its support.
What parents, teachers and school choice groups think of Education Department cuts
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The purge aligns with Trump’s campaign pledge to abolish the department entirely – a promise that resonated with the parents’ rights movement that emerged during pandemic school closures.
Education department slashed in half after Trump administration mass firings
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A more likely scenario is that Congress could pass legislation to reorganize the agency’s various functions, relocating them elsewhere within the government.
Education Dept. cuts are here. What happens now to student loans, FAFSA and IEPs?
USA TODAY·8d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Even before the layoffs, the civil rights office had been losing staff even as complaints rose to record levels.
Education Department layoffs gut its civil rights office, leaving discrimination cases in limbo
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The layoffs impacted 1,315 of the department's roughly 4,000 employees.
Education Department terminates 1,300 workers as Trump admin takes 'first step' toward shutdown
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The massive culling of the Department of Education’s staff on Tuesday was the first step toward cutting bureaucratic bloat, and give the states more power over school programs.
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Summary
The Trump administration's recent layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education have resulted in the termination of nearly all 130 staffers at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is crucial for student performance assessments. This marks a significant cut to a body responsible for the 'Nation's Report Card.' Critics warn that such reductions could seriously impact civil rights protections and support provisions for students with disabilities. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has defended the layoffs as efforts towards operational efficiency, although many experts express concern over the long-term implications on education monitoring and student services.
Perspectives
The Department of Education's layoffs affect nearly 50% of its workforce, totaling approximately 1,300 employees, with concerns that critical functions and support for vulnerable student populations may be compromised.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon's framing of the layoffs as a commitment to efficiency raises doubts about the department's future capacity to advocate for civil rights and ensure educational equity.
Critics point to widespread apprehension regarding how the layoffs will hinder civil rights enforcement and educational opportunities, particularly for students with disabilities and those in high-poverty districts.
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