US Education Department lays off 20% of staff: How will this affect the future of student support?

The US Department of Education has laid off over 460 employees, cutting roughly 20% of its workforce amid the ongoing government shutdown. The move comes as the department struggles to maintain services after earlier rounds of staff reductions and amidst an extended funding impasse in Washington. This significant workforce reduction follows a series of layoffs and buyouts earlier in the year that had already halved the department’s staffing. The latest firings were disclosed in a court filing by the Justice Department on October 10, coinciding with the White House’s renewed push to apply pressure on congressional Democrats over the shutdown. Massive layoffs hit critical offices Among the most affected were divisions responsible for key educational oversight functions, including t