Education Department cuts are part of Trump’s plan to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies. However, his drastic cuts to the U.S. Department of Education could have the opposite effect, according to experts and former officials.
Massive Layoffs in the Education Department
Last week, the administration slashed the Education Department’s workforce by 50%, with key offices losing hundreds of staff members. Concerns over the stability of student loan processing and FAFSA services were raised by the downsizing, which targeted important oversight organizations like the Federal Student Aid Office, where more than 300 employees were let go.
Civil Rights Office: Enforcing anti-discrimination laws in educational institutions became more difficult after seven regional offices were shut down.
Institutional Oversight Division – Staff numbers dropped from 192 to just 29, potentially increasing fraudulent practices in federal financial aid programs.
FAFSA Outage Sparks Concern
Shortly after the layoffs, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system suffered a major outage. While officials claim the FAFSA outage wasn’t linked to the staffing cuts, former employees argue that the reductions jeopardize financial aid administration.
Experts Warn of Increased Fraud in Schools
By gutting oversight agencies, critics say the Trump administration has weakened protections for students and financial aid programs. Colleges accused of misconduct may now face little to no scrutiny, while discriminatory practices could go unchecked.
“If there is waste, fraud, and abuse, this administration has now eliminated the very agency that would provide oversight for that,” said Sheria Smith, a former attorney for the Office for Civil Rights.
What’s Next for Schools and Students?
Colleges may be wasting public funds without proper oversight if there are fewer watchdogs.
prolonged financial assistance processing periods, which affect students’ ability to afford their education.
Racial scholarship awarding became the new focus of the administration’s civil rights investigations.
Experts warn that if legal battles over the cuts begin, educators and children may face long-term repercussions.
Source: Fox News
