Department of Education eliminates almost 50% of workforce

(NewsNation) — The Department of Education announced Tuesday almost half of its staff will be laid off starting March 21.

“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,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.

The statement added that the department will continue to deliver on programs, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for students who are disabled and competitive grantmaking. 

This makes it so the department’s workforce will total 2,183 workers, down from 4,133 when President Donald Trump first took office.

Included in this number are almost 600 employees who took buyouts.

According to a note obtained by NewsNation, all Washington, D.C., offices in the National Capital Region will be closed for “security reasons” starting 6 p.m. ET Tuesday and also Wednesday.

“Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12 for any reason,” the note said. “All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13, at which time in-person presence will resume.”

Several federal agencies have seen layoffs and firings through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump created at the beginning of the year. This includes the Social Security AdministrationInternal Revenue Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among other agencies.

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MAGA hammers Trump for ‘humiliating’ assault on states’ rights



President Donald Trump was hit by pushback from some MAGA Republicans —including "War Room" host Steve Bannon — for an executive order limiting states' ability to regulate artificial intelligence technology.

The Hill's Alexander Bolton on Tuesday wrote, "Trump is trying to avoid an open fight with Republicans who want to rein in the titans of AI by reaching out to GOP lawmakers to make the argument that state regulation of the industry could cripple its growth. But Republicans who warn that unregulated AI poses a serious threat to intellectual property, American jobs and children's safety aren't happy the president did an end-run around Congress — even if they're holding back from criticizing the president directly."

Bannon is being especially outspoken.

Although the "War Room" podcaster — who served as White House chief strategist in the first Trump Administration in 2017 — is a major Trump ally, he is often critical of the president's alliances with Silicon Valley tech bros. And he isn't shy about attacking Tesla head Elon Musk.

In a statement, Bannon said of Trump's AI executive order, "After two humiliating face plants on must-pass legislation, now we attempt an entirely unenforceable EO — tech bros doing upmost to turn POTUS MAGA base away from him while they line their pockets."

Outgoing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is another MAGA Republican who is critical of Trump's tech alliances.

The Georgia congresswoman recently resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives, effective early January 2026, and believes that Trump has betrayed his America First agenda during his second presidency.

In a post on X, Greene declared, "I will NOT vote for any bill that destroys states' rights and lets AI run wild for the next 10 years. AI will replace jobs, especially in the press. This is not a left or right issue. It's about humanity. I'll go to the mat on this. If you kill federalism, I'm out."


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