Trump signs executive order to close U.S. Department of Education

Scale and timetable of layoffs

The Trump administration plans to cut about 1,300 federal Department of Education employees by August 1, 2025, accounting for nearly 40% of the department's total establishment.

The layoffs are a continuation of Trump's promise to "disband the Department of Education" since his 2024 campaign, aiming to delegate education management to the states.

Supreme Court ruling in favor

In July 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the federal government had the right to cut positions in the Department of Education under the Administrative Reorganization Act, dismissing the "unconstitutional" lawsuit filed by unions and Democratic states.

Affected projects

The positions to be cut are mainly concentrated in federal education program supervision, special education funding (such as the IDEA Act) and the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Some projects (such as "Title I" poverty school district subsidies) will be transferred to state governments for management, but critics are concerned about the reduced transparency of funding allocation.

Support and opposition

Supporters (Trump administration and conservatives):

Believe that the federal Department of Education "over-interferes in local education" and layoffs can reduce bureaucracy and give state governments greater autonomy.

Cited data shows that the administrative costs of the Department of Education have risen by 27% in the past decade, while student performance (such as NAEP assessments) has not improved significantly.

Opposition (Democratic Party, teachers unions and education organizations):

Warning that layoffs will lead to the loss of rights and interests of disadvantaged students, especially federal programs that children with disabilities and low-income families rely on.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) called this move a "systematic dismantling of public education" and planned to launch a national protest.

Potential impact

Increased pressure on state governments

States need to take over federal projects in the short term, but many states lack matching funds and manpower, which may lead to service gaps.

Worsening educational inequality

Poor school districts that rely on federal funding (such as Mississippi and New Mexico) may face resource cuts, while wealthy states will be less affected.

Political game continues

If there is a change of political parties after the 2025 election, the new government may try to restore the functions of the Ministry of Education, but it needs to pass congressional legislation.

Subsequent focus

The implementation of layoffs on August 1: whether the union will launch a strike or legal challenge.

State response plan: Some blue states (such as California) have announced that they will raise funds to fill the gap.

2025 election issue: The ownership of education rights may become the focus of debate between the two parties.