Layoffs at the U.S. Education Department; Now Local News app users respond
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Layoffs at the U.S. Education Department announced by the Trump administration Tuesday evening, is leaving some educators, students and families wondering what’s next.
The cuts are set to put more than 1,300 people out of a job. Combined with those who already took voluntary so called, “buyouts” — that reduces the department’s head count to nearly 2,200 employees.
These substantial cuts to the U.S. Education Department’s workforce could be a step towards dismantling the department altogether – something President Donald Trump previously proposed.
Trump said he feels badly about people losing their jobs, but claims the employees didn’t do work.
“Many of them never showed up to work,” he said. “That’s not good. ”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in an interview with Fox News that the president wants her to shut down the department.
“That was the president’s mandate,” she said, “his directive to me is clearly to shut down the department of education.”
On the other side, Democrats like Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, expressed concerns.
“That’s bad news for any American who cares about education for disabled children, about higher education, about a skilled workforce —” he said.
The Education Department has been responsible for things such as federal civil rights enforcement, student loans and oversight of student disability rights.
Senior officials said job cuts will not impact federal student aid.
Citizen journalists shared their thoughts and concerns with FOX23 through the Now Local News app.
“I’m hoping we aren’t going to be impacted at all by the cuts to the department of education. I hope that they would make those very judiciously and only cut where is necessary,” Christy said. “I think that will ultimately help school districts, if we return the control of the department of education to the state, and they are able to see and distribute the funds as they see fit.”
“As a public school teacher, I really have no idea what to expect and how this will affect public education in the coming months,” Jill said, “but personally, I feel like it is possibly going to affect federal loans. I know I have two students in college, two of my sons… I think it’s going to be really interesting to see how this will affect loans for colleges.”
Fully eliminating the U.S. Education Department would require action from Congress.
