By Mona Austin
(TSN): Sec. of Education Linda McMahon has announced a major workforce reduction in the Department of Education. Over 50% of the staff have been terminated and multiple offices closed. She said it is the first step toward doing what Pres. Donald Trump hired her to do--dismantling the entire department. In addition to prompting protests, the attorneys general of 21 states have filed a joint federal lawsuit claiming a violation of the law.
Calling it relieving "bureaucratic bloat" McMahon told FOX News some 1,315 staffers were let go, leaving about 2,183 employees.
McMahon is the part owner of the WWE and does not have a degree in education, but French. Detractors and rights groups say the department overhaul will not only have an effect on protections for children and their quality of education but also on Civil Rights and possibly loan forgiveness.
A statement on staff reductions indicated the department "will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking."
Under the Trump mandate to eliminate DEI, the mass firings may serve a dual purpose. One of the most diverse departments in the federal government, in 2023, the DOE workforce was 54% White, 18% African American, and 13% Hispanic or Latino.