McMahon Tell Fox News The Administration Is Seeking To Remove “Bureaucratic Bloat” at the Department of Education
Overview
Beginning with a morning interview (www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nearly-half-of-department-of-education-staff-set-to-be-eliminated-imminently/ar-AA1AIt0b?ocid=BingNewsSerp) on Fox & Friends Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was asked whether she would work towards eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and whether an Executive Order eliminating the Department was forthcoming. Secretary McMahon stated that she would not get out in front of the President, but that it was her role to.
This was followed today by rumors that an announcement was imminent that the President and the Department planned to announce a reduction in force – releasing as many as 50% of the current staff.
The rumors have now been substantiated, with more details provided in an official press release released by the Department and a follow-up live interview less than fifteen minutes ago with Secretary of Education McMahon. As stated in the press release (www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-initiates-reduction-force) ,
“As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce. Impacted Department staff will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21st.
“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,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”
The Department of Education will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grant-making.
All divisions within the Department are impacted by the reduction, with some divisions requiring significant reorganization to better serve students, parents, educators, and taxpayers.”
The press release details that the employees impacted by the RIF “will be placed on administrative leave beginning next Friday, March 21.” And furthermore, that all impacted employees, “will receive full pay and benefits until July 9th, as well as substantial severance pay or retirement benefits based upon their length of service.”
Quick Summary of This Evening’s Fox News Interview
In the interview this evening that took place at approximately 7:30 PM ET, Secretary of Education McMahon stated that the goal of the RIF was to remove “bureaucratic bloat” within the Department and that while this most certainly was a humanitarian issue with the loss of jobs, that the President has a fundamental mission to cut the bureaucracy within Washington and that this was a step to address that concern.
Secretary McMahon stated that all the programs the Department is responsible for administering under Congressional directives would remain in operations, and also noted that the Department could not be eliminated without Congressional action.
