Education Department announces it's cutting nearly 50% of workforce
CBSMAR 5
US Education Department Halves Workforce
Above: US Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) speaks alongside Democratic senators to press in the US Capitol on March 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kayla Bartkowski/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
Trump's education reforms, including Department of Education layoffs and reduced overhead for research grants, represent essential market corrections to an inefficient system. Removing bureaucratic bloat and redirecting funds to states promises to improve student outcomes while addressing higher education's declining productivity and escalating costs.
Democratic narrative
Gutting the Education Department threatens America's foundational promise of equal opportunity. By slashing its workforce and canceling programs that help disadvantaged students, disabled children, and aspiring college graduates, Trump's administration risks dismantling vital safeguards that level the educational playing field—potentially widening inequality and undermining America's global competitiveness.