The Department of Education has embarked on a significant workforce reduction, aiming to address ‘bureaucratic bloat’.
On March 11, the US Department of Education announced the commencement of a reduction in force (RIF) affecting ‘nearly 50 percent of the Department’s workforce’.
A press release from the Department indicated that their workforce numbered 4,133 employees when Trump assumed the presidency as the 47th President of the United States.
Following the initiation of the RIF, the workforce is projected to decrease to ‘roughly 2,183 workers’, marking a reduction of about 1,950 employees.
The release specifies: “Included in the reduction in force are nearly 600 employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement over the last seven weeks, including: 259 employees accepted the Deferred Resignation Program [and] 313 employees accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment.”
Remaining employees affected by the RIF ‘will be placed on administrative leave beginning’ March 21.
This announcement also featured a statement from Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
McMahon stated: “Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers.
“I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department.
“This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
In a discussion on Fox News’ Laura Ingraham’s The Ingraham Angle, McMahon highlighted that the layoffs were part of Trump’s ‘mandate’ and ‘directive’ to ‘shut down the Department of Education’.
In a campaign video, Trump expressed: “We’re going to end education coming out of Washington, DC. We’re going to close it up – all those buildings all over the place and people that in many cases hate our