President Trump defended his administration’s plan to cut nearly half of the Education Department’s workforce, including about 1,300 layoffs, saying U.S. students lag behind peers in countries such as China, Norway, Denmark and Sweden and that states should run education.
The Education Department announced about 1,300 layoffs, part of a reduction that will cut nearly half of its staff.
Trump defends Education Department job cuts
President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his administration’s decision to cut nearly half of the jobs at the U.S. Department of Education. He said the move is about improving American education and returning control to the states.
Trump said students in the United States are falling behind students in other countries, naming China, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and argued that education should be run by states rather than from Washington.
Why Trump says the cuts are needed
The department announced this week that it would lay off about 1,300 employees. Trump pointed to international rankings in reading, math and science to argue that the current system is not working, and said states should be in charge of their own schools.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said:
“We have a dream. And you know what the dream is? We’re going to move the Department of Education. We’re going to move education into the states, so that the states, instead of bureaucrats working in Washington, can run education.”
What it would mean in practice
Under Trump’s approach, states such as Texas, California and Florida would have more say over curriculum, testing and teacher support. The federal department currently administers major funding programs, oversees student aid and enforces civil rights laws in schools.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s position
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has supported reducing the size of the department. In a statement announcing the layoffs, she said the reduction “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.”
What happens next
The cuts come as Trump is expected to sign an executive order aimed at winding down the department. Fully closing the department would require action by Congress, because it was created by federal law.
Supporters
Conservative groups and advocates of state control over education have welcomed the plan. They argue that local leaders are better placed to decide what students learn and how teachers are trained, and that a smaller federal role would give families more choices.
Critics
Democrats, teachers’ unions and many education advocates oppose the move. They say the federal government plays an important role in protecting students’ civil rights and supporting public schools, and they warn that cuts could hurt students in low-income communities and students with disabilities who rely on federal programs.
Areas that could be affected
If the department is significantly reduced, changes could reach several areas, including:
- Standardized testing and data collection
- Federal funding for low-income schools
- Special education support
- Civil rights enforcement in schools
- Federal student aid administration
Supporters say some states could improve their systems with more control, while critics say gaps between states could widen.
Why it matters
The Department of Education was created by a law signed in 1979 and began operating in 1980. Cutting its staff in half, or eliminating it, would be one of the largest changes to federal education policy in decades and would affect millions of students, teachers and families.
Summary
- The Education Department is laying off about 1,300 workers as part of a plan to cut nearly half of its staff.
- Trump says states, not Washington, should run education.
- Supporters say the change will make schools more efficient and save money.
- Opponents say it could hurt students and reduce equal access to education.
- Closing the department entirely would require approval from Congress.
Source: WTTW News (AP)
