How massive US Education Department cuts are threatening the Nation's Report Card and core federal programs

Time of India

16-07-2025

US Education Department layoffs leave key student testing and research functions at risk. (The New York Times)
The US Supreme Court has allowed the Department of Education to move forward with laying off more than 1,300 employees, a decision that is already affecting key federal education functions.
The move is part of President Donald Trump's broader plan to dismantle the department, an effort long supported by some conservatives. The cuts reduce the department's total workforce by nearly half, following the resignation or separation of an additional 600 employees earlier this year.
Among the most severely impacted areas is the Nation's Report Card — officially known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — which is a congressionally mandated program used to assess student performance across states.
According to the Washington Post, nearly all staff in the division overseeing NAEP were laid off, leaving only three employees to manage the work that was previously handled by approximately 30.
Impact on student testing and national data collection
NAEP, administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), is the only federal assessment that provides comparable data on student achievement across states.
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Undo
It is one of the key responsibilities of the Department of Education. The significant staff reductions are already impacting operations. According to the Washington Post, the department missed its deadline for releasing the 2024 science test results and preparations for the 2026 assessment are now at risk due to insufficient staffing.
The National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees NAEP, approved a reduced testing schedule in April.
The revised plan preserves only the congressionally mandated math and reading tests and eliminates 19 other assessments that were scheduled for 2028 to 2032. The board reportedly tried to retain the most essential exams while signaling which ones should be protected from future cuts, according to a source cited by the Washington Post.
Other federal education offices affected
The layoffs have also heavily impacted the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Office of English Language Acquisition, and the Federal Student Aid office.
The IES, the department's main research and data division, lost around 90 percent of its staff. Mark Schneider, who led the IES from 2018 to 2024, told the Washington Post that the department has yet to provide a clear plan for continuing its responsibilities, stating, "We have so many more questions than we have answers.
"
A summary of key impacts from the layoffs, as reported by the Washington Post, is shown below:
Impact of
US Education Department layoffs
Category
Details
Total layoffs approved
1,300 employees
Additional separations
~600 (via separation packages)
Overall workforce reduction
Nearly 50%
Effective separation date
August 1 (as reported by the Washington Post)
NAEP staff reduction
From ~30 to 3 employees
IES staff reduction
~90% cut
NAEP missed deadline
2024 science test results (not released on time)
Planned testing cuts (2028–2032)
19 assessments eliminated
Programs/agencies affected
NAEP, IES, NCES, OCR, Office of English Language Acquisition, Student Aid
Budget cut to NAEP
$48 million reduction (as reported by the Washington Post)
Estimated NAEP savings (5 years)
$185 million (according to Education Dept., per Washington Post)
Governing Board action
Prioritized mandated math and reading assessments; cut optional subjects
Key quote (Mark Schneider)
"We have so many more questions than we have answers." (via Washington Post)
Trump statement
"Major Victory to Parents and Students..." (via Truth Social, quoted by WP)
According to the Washington Post, department spokesperson Madi Biedermann stated that the agency is working with Congress and state leaders to ensure all required functions continue and that the Trump administration is committed to "sunsetting" the department responsibly.
Supreme Court decision and ongoing legal challenge
The Supreme Court's decision allowed the layoffs to proceed while litigation continues in a lower court. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 252 said the affected staff had remained on paid leave since a federal court issued a preliminary injunction in May. After the Supreme Court ruling, the department notified employees that their official separation date is August 1, as reported by the Washington Post.
President Trump described the court's decision as a victory for families, stating on Truth Social that the ruling was a "Major Victory to Parents and Students across the Country," according to the Washington Post. Critics, however, argue the cuts have left the future of several core federal education functions uncertain.
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