The dismantling of the Education Department, briefly explained
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Welcome to The Logoff. Today I’m focusing on the Trump administration’s move to cut the Department of Education’s staff by half. Before we dive in, a request: If you’re enjoying The Logoff, please consider forwarding it to a friend (or text them this sign-up link: https://voxdotcom.visitlink.me/MFBxDE.) I really appreciate it.
What’s the latest? The administration Tuesday night laid off 1,315 Education Department workers. The cuts, combined with previous staff reductions, mean the agency will be about half the size it was when Donald Trump took office seven weeks ago.
What does the Education Department do? Among many tasks, the department is responsible for:
Will it keep doing all of that? The administration defended the cuts by saying they’d improve efficiency and keep the organization focused on its core missions. Critics say that’s simply not possible at the new staff level: some or all of its functions will suffer.
What’s (possibly) next? Multiple outlets have reported that Trump was planning to try to close the department by executive order. It’s not clear if these cuts replaced that move, or if there’s more to come. But Trump would need Congress to eliminate the department entirely, and he doesn’t have the 60 Senate votes he’d need to do it.
What’s the big picture? Conservatives have long had a vendetta against the Education Department. Gutting it won’t affect what schools teach — that’s controlled at the state and local level — but, through understaffing, Trump can make it difficult for the department to enforce laws and help schools, districts, and anyone with a student loan. The consequences may be quiet, but they could be enormous.
And with that, it’s time to log off…
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