On Tuesday, March 11, Education Secretary Linda McMahon fired more than 1,300 Department of Education (ED) staff—roughly one third of all staffers—in a mass “reduction in force” affecting nearly every office within the ED, with the Institute of Education Sciences, Federal Student Aid, and the Office for Civil Rights taking the brunt of the hit. Secretary McMahon said the decision was an effort to improve efficiency and accountability, ensuring that resources were “directed where they matter most.” ED noted that 600 employees had accepted voluntary resignation opportunities.

According to the Committee for Education Funding, the layoffs will 

• Remove the research and evaluation information that helps show promising teaching practices and identify which areas need more attention;
• Eliminate the lawyers who ensure that ED and schools are following the laws that protect students, parents, and educators. State and local agencies will have less guidance and less oversight; and
• Reduce access to student aid and other assistance that might be funded, but not available—just as Congress is providing tens of billions of dollars for ED to administer.

In the good news category, a federal judge in Maryland has blocked the mass firings of probationary federal workers and ordered thousands of fired probationary workers to be reinstated. The order from U.S. District Judge James Bredar ruled that the Trump administration’s terminations violated federal law and regulations, particularly for failing to provide the required 60-day notice to state governments. The ruling followed an earlier decision from a separate federal judge that similarly blocked terminations in six Cabinet departments.

Read the ED press release here, and the article from The Hill here. 

Government Shutdown Averted, Trump Signs CR Funding Bill
Over the March 15 weekend, lawmakers avoided a federal government shutdown after the Senate passed a six-month continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 54-46. The Senate voted to approve the Republican bill, which passed the House earlier in the week on a party line vote, after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY) secured enough Democrat votes to move it through.

The short-term extension funds the government at current levels through September 30, while adding $6 billion to military spending and cutting $13 billion in domestic non-defense spending. Title I received level funding, but the bill does not include the specific funding levels for key education programs such as Title II, Title IV, and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program.

House Appropriations Committee Debates Federal Education Investments 
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on federal investments in elementary education, which revealed deep partisan divides over school choice, public education funding, and the federal government’s role in K–12 education.

Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) criticized the emphasis on social issues over academic fundamentals, advocating for school choice and questioning the effectiveness of increased federal spending. In contrast, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) defended federal investments as vital for educational equity and criticized proposed budget cuts as threats to public education.

Both parties acknowledged the importance of educational funding, but remained divided on the approach, highlighting the ongoing ideological battle over public versus private education models. Witnesses presented polarized views on federal involvement and increased school choice, local control and accountability, and federal funding for underserved communities. Debate also centered around the effectiveness of Title I funding and the role of the Department of Education, the impact of proposed budget cuts on special education, civil rights protections, and public school resources.

Education Department Launches Anti-DEI Portal for K–12 Schools 
ED has introduced a new public portal that enables parents, students, teachers, and community members to report instances of race- or sex-based discrimination in publicly-funded K–12 schools. 

Through the new platform, users can provide an e-mail address, the name of the student’s school or district, and detailed descriptions of the situation the user found concerning, and ED will review these submissions to identify areas that may require investigation. Read more here. 

NEA and ACLU Sue Education Department Over DEI Threats 
The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit challenging ED’s February 14 Dear Colleague letter that threatens to withhold federal funding from schools with race-based programming.

The plaintiffs argue that ED’s directive violates constitutional rights and goes against longstanding civil rights law protecting teachers and students. The lawsuit also targets ED’s "End DEI" portal, which allows the public to report DEI programs in schools.

In the Dear Colleague letter, the Trump administration cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on affirmative action in college admissions as legal reasoning. The letter has caused confusion among educators, who worry that it could undermine existing civil rights laws and create uncertainty about how to approach teaching sensitive topics like racism and identity. Critics argue that the letter’s vague language and its implications for school curriculum could lead to overcompliance, as schools and universities adjust to avoid potential investigations and funding cuts.

For the latest advocacy and policy updates, be sure to check out our Legislative Updates blog series, which is featured in our e-newsletters, NSTA Reports, and NSTA Weekly. You can also access the articles directly on the NSTA Blog. 

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