Agency Downsizing Plan Leaves U.S. Education Department Partly Intact
President Donald Trump continues to push his long-promised agency downsizing plan. The goal focuses on shrinking the federal role in schooling. However, the U.S. The Education Department has not fully disappeared. At the start of Trump’s second term in January, the department employed about 4,100 workers. By March, layoffs and early retirements reduced that number by nearly half. Court challenges, however, slowed some of those cuts.
In a key ruling, the Supreme Court allowed nearly 1,400 layoffs to proceed.
That decision marked a major step forward for the administration. Still, staffing changes did not end there. Despite reductions, officials rehired some staff members. They returned to address a growing backlog of civil rights complaints. As a result, core enforcement work continued.
Federal Duties Shift to Other Agencies
In November, the department signed six agreements with other federal agencies. These included Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State. Each took on selected program responsibilities.
Officials said the move would reduce bureaucracy. They also argued it would improve efficiency through specialized oversight. For example, agencies with related expertise now manage certain services. Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the shift as a return of authority to states. She said cutting Washington red tape remains a priority. That message aligns closely with Trump’s long-standing position.
Department Remains Operational
Even with outsourcing, the department has not closed. It still oversees national policy and compliance matters. However, the full impact of staff transfers remains unclear.
Major federal programs continue without interruption. These include student aid, grants, and civil rights enforcement. Thousands of employees still support daily operations. Only Congress holds the power to abolish the department entirely. Therefore, the current status remains temporary. For now, the promise to eliminate it stays unfinished.
