Janaki Mehta

And in that statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said these cuts reflect the department's, quote, commitment to efficiency, accountability and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most to students, parents and teachers. The announcement clearly said all divisions of the agency will be impacted.

The Department of Ed sent union leaders a list of employees who would be laid off, and the union shared that list with NPR. The cuts are certainly wide-ranging. Hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights, and another 100-plus from the Institute of Education Sciences are

The Department of Ed sent union leaders a list of employees who would be laid off, and the union shared that list with NPR. The cuts are certainly wide-ranging. Hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights, and another 100-plus from the Institute of Education Sciences are

The Department of Ed sent union leaders a list of employees who would be laid off, and the union shared that list with NPR. The cuts are certainly wide-ranging. Hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights, and another 100-plus from the Institute of Education Sciences are

which was already gutted by other federal cuts a few weeks ago. And many other parts of the agency were reflected in that list too.

which was already gutted by other federal cuts a few weeks ago. And many other parts of the agency were reflected in that list too.

which was already gutted by other federal cuts a few weeks ago. And many other parts of the agency were reflected in that list too.

Yeah, I heard from multiple employees who were notified yesterday that they will be laid off in coming days. Sharia Smith is an attorney at the Department of Ed's Office for Civil Rights. She's also president of AFGE Local 252, which is a union that represents Ed Department employees.

Yeah, I heard from multiple employees who were notified yesterday that they will be laid off in coming days. Sharia Smith is an attorney at the Department of Ed's Office for Civil Rights. She's also president of AFGE Local 252, which is a union that represents Ed Department employees.

Yeah, I heard from multiple employees who were notified yesterday that they will be laid off in coming days. Sharia Smith is an attorney at the Department of Ed's Office for Civil Rights. She's also president of AFGE Local 252, which is a union that represents Ed Department employees.

And Smith, along with all five of the other union officers in her chapter, were told Tuesday that they're being laid off.

And Smith, along with all five of the other union officers in her chapter, were told Tuesday that they're being laid off.

And Smith, along with all five of the other union officers in her chapter, were told Tuesday that they're being laid off.

So the Office for Civil Rights where Smith works is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.

So the Office for Civil Rights where Smith works is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.

So the Office for Civil Rights where Smith works is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.

Yes, they are. So, for example, the Institute of Education Sciences or IES does research on all kinds of topics related to American education. It has a bunch of sub branches that were established in laws passed by Congress as well. But I saw a termination email for an employee of one of those sub branches that I'm talking about that clearly states that their entire unit is being, quote, abolished.

Yes, they are. So, for example, the Institute of Education Sciences or IES does research on all kinds of topics related to American education. It has a bunch of sub branches that were established in laws passed by Congress as well. But I saw a termination email for an employee of one of those sub branches that I'm talking about that clearly states that their entire unit is being, quote, abolished.

Yes, they are. So, for example, the Institute of Education Sciences or IES does research on all kinds of topics related to American education. It has a bunch of sub branches that were established in laws passed by Congress as well. But I saw a termination email for an employee of one of those sub branches that I'm talking about that clearly states that their entire unit is being, quote, abolished.

Whether or not that's legal is not clear yet. Say, like, if the Ed Department has retained at least some of the employees at these offices that are protected by law, they could be leaving the door open to say that office hasn't completely been shut down. Kenneth Wong is a professor of education policy at Brown University, and here's what he said.