Three former heads of the U.S. Department of Education and a labor union leader formally requested an investigation into mass layoffs at the federal education agency on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
The request targets the implementation of a reduction in force that displaced roughly 1,000 workers last August. The move signals intensifying scrutiny over President Donald Trump’s directive to dismantle parts of the 46-year-old department. For Idaho families relying on federal education grants and programs, the stability of these funding streams remains a key concern as the agency undergoes structural changes.
What Happened
Former Secretaries Arne Duncan, John B. King Jr., and Miguel Cardona joined Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, in sending a letter to Acting Inspector General Mark Priebe. The group asked for an audit into the cost and impact of the mass firings.
The coalition held a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol to announce the request. Democratic lawmakers joined the labor leaders to criticize the administration’s efforts to downsize the department. Speakers argued that the agency’s mission to promote student achievement has been compromised by Secretary Linda McMahon, whom Trump tapped to lead the dismantling effort.
The timeline of the layoffs began in March 2025, when President Trump issued an executive order outlining a plan to reduce the agency’s size. The department announced the reduction in force that same month. Legal challenges delayed the implementation until July 2025, when the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily approved the downsizing plan.
The layoffs took effect in early August 2025. Another round of terminations targeted nearly 500 employees in October 2025. Hundreds of workers have since been reinstated or rehired following legal and administrative reviews.
By The Numbers
- 1,000: Approximate number of workers terminated or forced into retirement in August 2025.
- 500: Number of employees targeted for firing in a second wave in October 2025.
- 46: Years since the Department of Education was established.
- 12+: Number of interagency agreements signed to transfer responsibilities to other departments.
Zoom Out
The administration has moved to shift education-related functions to other federal agencies. More than a dozen interagency agreements have been signed with the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Interior, State, Justice, and Treasury.
Congressional committees have responded to these transfers. In July 2025, a Senate education panel advanced a bipartisan bill aimed at blocking certain interagency agreements. Earlier that month, a House education panel advanced a package of measures designed to reduce the department’s responsibilities.
A department spokesperson defended the actions, criticizing the former secretaries’ records on issues such as Common Core, FAFSA administration, and gender definitions. The spokesperson stated that the reduction in force was implemented in compliance with existing regulations and laws.
What’s Next
The Acting Inspector General’s office will determine whether to open a formal investigation based on the letter from the former secretaries and union leader. Legislative efforts to limit interagency transfers continue through Senate and House education panels. Idaho parents may see further changes to federal education funding structures as these policies take effect, particularly regarding federal school voucher credits scheduled for a 2027 launch.
About the Author
