In what seems to be a stopgap measure before President Donald Trump considers issuing an executive order that would completely shut down the US Department of Education, the agency has revealed plans to reduce around half of its workers.
The department stated that “all divisions” would be impacted by the cuts, but it was not made clear who would be affected.
According to earlier reports, Trump intended to redeploy some of the department’s programs to other government agencies while discontinuing others.
Conservatives have long favored a complete shutdown of the department, but this would need a congressional act.
According to a Wall Street Journal draft of Trump’s proposed executive order, the Republican president will give former World Education Secretary Linda McMahon instructions.
