Department of Education Staff Say Plan to Dismantle Agency “Makes No Sense” as Morale Collapses

Employees inside the U.S. Department of Education say the administration’s plan to transfer major functions to other federal agencies “makes no sense” and has left morale at the agency shattered. Three current staffers, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, described confusion, account lockouts and repeated disruptions roughly 10 months after the president returned to the White House.

In a recent all-staff meeting, Education Secretary Linda McMahon outlined a plan to shift core operations to the Departments of the Interior, Health and Human Services, Labor and State. While the administration frames many of the reassignments as temporary, officials intend to seek congressional approval to make the changes permanent.

The department’s workforce has already been reduced significantly: from more than 4,000 employees when the administration took office to roughly 2,700 now, staff say. Many employees received reduction-in-force notifications during the shutdown period; some of those notices were later rescinded following court action, but communication about employees’ current status remains limited.

Locked accounts and poor communication: Several workers reported that, after returning to casework for a short time when the government reopened, they were again denied access to their work accounts. “Our group has received absolutely no communication from the Department of Education since the government reopened. No rescinded notices, no clarification as to our status, and we, largely, do not have access to our accounts,” one employee said. “I’ve been waiting and calling IT trying to get back to work to no avail.”

“Not one person applauded. Morale is completely lost. Staff are furious about the way we are being treated.”

Workers warned that shifting responsibilities without clear staffing plans will create delays and confusion for the public. “If it’s just the work that moves and not the staff, who will do it? The practical effect is the work cannot — and will not — be done in the manner necessary to serve the people,” an employee said. Another called the reassignments “nonsensical,” arguing they would add red tape and cost, not return authority to states.

Unions, experts and educators raise alarms

The department’s employee union, AFGE Local 252, called the moves unlawful and warned they would harm students and families who rely on federal support. Rachel Gittleman, the union president and an agency employee, said breaking apart the department and shifting work to agencies without educational expertise will increase confusion for schools and undermine trust.

Policy experts and education leaders also voiced concerns. Angela Hanks of the Century Foundation questioned the logic of moving Title I — a program that funds schools serving roughly 26 million children — to an agency program that currently serves far fewer students. Teacher unions criticized the timing and substance of the announcement, calling it an abdication of responsibility that risks damaging students’ prospects.

Critics say the plan could create a patchwork of responsibility that leaves families, schools and districts to navigate increased complexity during implementation. The administration has promoted the reorganization on social media; one department post included an out-of-office screenshot with the headline, “OOO: Hopefully for good soon.” The White House deferred comment to the Department of Education, which did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

What’s next: Officials plan to move forward with the reassignments while pursuing congressional approval to formalize the changes. Employees, unions and education groups warn that without clear staffing, funding and transition plans, the reorganization risks disrupting services for students and schools nationwide.