Education Secretary Linda McMahon is making waves with her ambitious plan to dismantle the Department of Education, which recently saw over 300 employees accept lucrative buyout offers. She’s literally working to…fire herself!
At a glance:
• Over 300 Department of Education employees accepted a $25,000 buyout offer to resign
• The buyout was available for just four days with resignations effective March 31
• Secretary McMahon plans to redistribute department responsibilities to states and other federal agencies
• President Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order to expedite the department’s reduction
• McMahon aims to eliminate DEI programs and prioritize school choice initiatives
Massive Exodus from Education Department as Trump’s Promise Becomes Reality
The Department of Education is experiencing a significant workforce reduction as approximately 7% of its 4,500 employees have accepted buyout offers to leave their positions. Secretary Linda McMahon, confirmed on March 4 despite unanimous Democratic opposition, is wasting no time implementing President Trump’s vision for drastically reducing federal involvement in education.
The buyout offer of $25,000 was made available to employees who had served at least three years and hadn’t received recent bonuses or student loan repayment benefits. The limited-time offer was presented as a one-time opportunity ahead of what department leadership described as “a very significant Reduction in Force.” And now, she’s working to fire herself by gradually winding down the entire department.
McMahon’s Bold Strategy to Dissolve Federal Education Control
Secretary McMahon has been clear about her intention to convince Congress that eliminating the Department of Education would benefit American students. She argues that only 47 cents of every federal education dollar actually reaches classrooms, with most funds being consumed by regulatory compliance and bureaucracy.
“I think my job is to convince Congress that the steps that we are taking are in the best interest of the kids, and that they would vote to close the Department of Education if they feel confident that at the state level, those kids are going to receive a better education,” McMahon stated in a recent interview.
The administration’s plan includes transferring student loans and Pell Grants to other federal agencies while cutting approximately $900 million in research contracts. McMahon is also targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs for elimination, following President Trump’s broader Executive Order against such initiatives in federal agencies.
The Department of Education currently provides between 8-10% of public school funding, with the vast majority already managed at the state level. McMahon believes states are better positioned to make educational decisions for their students without federal interference.
Working alongside the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), McMahon is identifying cost-saving measures and developing a comprehensive plan for the department’s dissolution. “The responsibility of DOGE is to come in, review, audit, and make recommendations of what they think would be helpful in taking out the waste, fraud, and abuse they find,” she explained.
While the complete elimination of the Department of Education would require 60 votes in the Senate, the administration is moving forward with significant restructuring through executive action.
