U.S. Education Department

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U.S. Education Department threatens yanking funds for schools that use race in decisions

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to rescind federal funds for schools that use race-conscious practices in admissions, programming, training, hiring, scholarships and other aspects of student life, according to a Dear Colleague letter sent to schools.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/02/18/repub/u-s-education-department-threatens-yanking-funds-for-schools-that-use-race-in-decisions/?

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🎒 Education Department halves staff

Screenshot: Department of Education

The Education Department announced last night that it's slashing more than 1,300 jobs — a move reflecting President Trump's promise to dismantle the agency, Axios' Sareen Habeshian writes. Why it matters: The layoffs — which come on top of voluntary buyouts and the termination of probationary employees — leave the agency with about half the workers it started the year with. "Reduction in Force" notices started to go out to impacted employees at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. Those staff members will be placed on administrative leave beginning March 21, the department said. 👓 Between the lines: Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Fox News' Laura Ingraham it's the first step in Trump's plan to shut down the agency.

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Department of Education

The US Department of Education is cutting nearly 50% of its workforce, as President Trump has proposed eliminating the agency altogether. “Today’s reduction in force 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,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement on Tuesday. Senior officials said the cuts will not impact federal student aid “in any way, shape or form,” as experts raise alarm about whether the agency can carry out its usual duties with such a massive reduction. CNN reported last week that White House officials have prepared an executive order directing McMahon to begin the process of dismantling the department. Tuesday’s cuts follow similar layoffs at other federal agencies as part of the Trump and Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency’s continued efforts to shrink the size of the federal government.

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U.S. Education Department escalates crackdown on Gaza protests with warning to colleges

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department on Monday warned 60 colleges and universities they could face repercussions if they fail “to protect Jewish students on campus.”

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/03/11/repub/u-s-education-department-escalates-crackdown-on-gaza-protests-with-warning-to-colleges/?

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Massive Layoffs at the Department of Education Erode Its Civil Rights Division

With a mass email sharing what it called “difficult news,” the U.S. Department of Education has eroded one of its own key duties, abolishing more than half of the offices that investigate civil rights complaints from students and their families.

https://www.propublica.org/article/education-department-civil-rights-division-eroded-by-massive-layoffs?

Education Department layoffs gut its civil rights office, leaving discrimination cases in limbo

The Education Department’s civil rights branch is losing nearly half its staff in the Trump administration’s layoffs, effectively gutting an office that already faced a backlog of thousands of complaints from students and families across the nation. Read More.