This story was updated at 8 p.m. Eastern on March 11 with more information on the Education Department’s Reduction in Force plans
The Education Department is going through a mass layoff of its employees, as part of Reduction-in-Force (RIF) efforts happening across the federal government.
The department announced Tuesday evening that it laid off nearly 50% of its workforce through the RIF. Impacted employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning March 21.
According to the department, all impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, “as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the workforce reduction a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” McMahon said in a statement.
The department says its workforce now stands at about 2,183 employees —down from 4,133 when President Donald Trump took office in January.
Chief Human Capital Officer Jacqueline Clay told employees in an email Tuesday evening that the agency has begun sending RIF notices to employees.
Clay wrote that employees who applied for a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) have also received their acceptance notices.
Several agencies are currently offering early retirement to eligible employees, as well as VSIPs, or buyouts worth up to $25,000, to incentivize employees to leave their jobs, as part of the Trump administration’s plans to downsize the federal workforce.
Clay wrote that between now and March 21, employees who took the VSIP offer will close out their work activities before being placed on administrative leave.
“While your position was not directly affected, I understand that seeing valued colleagues and friends depart is never easy. These changes can bring a mix of emotions — grief for those we will miss, uncertainty about the future, and concern for the work that lies ahead,” Clay wrote in an email obtained by Federal News Network. “Please know that these decisions were not made lightly, and in no way reflect on the dedication and hard work of those who are leaving.”
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, which represents Education Department employees, told bargaining unit members in an email Tuesday evening that some union officers have already lost access to their ed.gov email accounts.
“We anticipate that impacted employees will be placed on administrative leave and lose access to their accounts as soon as tonight,” the union wrote.
Education Dept announces temporary office closures, citing ‘security reasons’
The Education Department is closing its offices in the Washington, D.C. metro area later today, and broadening those closures beyond the region on Wednesday, citing unspecific “security reasons.”
James Hairfield, the director of the Education Department’s Office of Security, Facilities, and Logistics, told staff in an email obtained by Federal News Network, that all department offices in the National Capital Region will be “closed for security reasons,” starting at 6 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
“Employees must vacate the building by that time,” Hairfield wrote.
According to the email, all department offices in the National Capital Region, as well as regional offices, will be closed to employees and contractor employees on March 12.
The email states that employees with approved telework agreements may work from home on Wednesday.
“Please take your laptop with you when departing the office on Tuesday, March 11th,” the email states. “Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday, March 12th, for any reason. All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13th, at which time in-person presence will resume.”
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, which represents Education Department employees, told bargaining unit workers in an email that the union is “aware of the notice” regarding office closures.
“We understand that this raises questions (and more confusion) regarding work expectations,” the union wrote, “Our guidance is that, in compliance with the presidential memorandum directing employees to return to the office, supervisors should have already terminated remote work and telework agreements for all employees within commuting distance of an ED office.”
“If you are within the commuting area and not on an active telework agreement, we recommend informing your supervisor that you do not have an active telework agreement and requesting clarification of how to code your administrative leave for tomorrow.”
If you would like to contact this reporter about recent changes happening in the federal government, please email [email protected] or reach out on Signal at: JHeckman.29
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