October 11, 2025
On Friday afternoon, the Trump Administration announced via the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that a widespread “reduction in force” (RIF) of federal employees was under way, impacting the U.S. Department of Education (ED), among other agencies. The Administration warned earlier this month that it would start implementing a RIF amid the federal government shutdown, which already furloughed all non-excepted employees. On Friday, 4,200 employees across the government received their notices, 466 from the ED’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), and the Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO), as reported by major news outlets including Education Week, the Washington Post, and National Public Radio.
The RIF comes after initial staff reductions and employee buyouts made by the Administration in March, which nearly halved the ED workforce. The additional staffing reductions could undermine the Department’s ability to support vital programs. OESE alone, is responsible for a range of programs, including:
- American Rescue Plan
- Enforcement of the Every Student Succeeds Act
- Office of Discretionary Grants & Support Services’ School and Community Improvement Programs such as Full-Service Community Schools, Promise Neighborhoods, and Statewide Family Engagement Centers
- Office of Formula Grants’ School Support & Accountability’s programs such as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, 21st CCLC National Technical Assistance Center
- Education Stabilization Fund Discretionary Grants
- Disaster Recovery Unit
- K12 Congressionally Funded Community Projects
- Office of Indian Education
- Office of Migrant Education
- School Infrastructure Programs
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing ED federal employees, has already challenged the RIF in court, arguing that the President has gone beyond his legal authority to mandate sweeping cuts to the workforce, and is therefore unlawful. The courts will ultimately decide if the layoffs can move forward, and it remains unclear whether the RIF is intended to be permanent, or whether the cuts will be reversed once the shutdown ends.
“These severe cuts to the hardworking staff that make up the Department of Education do not harm a political party – they harm countless American children, youth, and families who simply deserve a quality education in safe, welcoming schools in their communities,” said IEL President Eddie Koen. “Public school programs and the livelihoods of the people that support them are caught in the cross-hairs.”
With the government shutdown entering another week, the FY26 budget appropriations have been paused. This is an important time for all who support children, youth, and families to reach out to their representatives about preserving federal funding for their programs. IEL’s latest advocacy tools can be found here.
This is a developing story, and additional updates will be made accordingly.