What do US Department of Education layoffs mean for North Carolina?

The United States Department of Education is facing restructuring, announcing Tuesday evening that nearly 50% of the DOE workforce is being laid off. Officials say about 600 employees took a voluntary buy out or deferred resignation. The DOE staffing levels dropped from 4,133 in January, 2025 and now stands at 2,183 employees.

“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 US 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.” 

Tuesday’s announcement assured that DOE will continue to administer all statutory programs of the agency, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grant-making. 

“The Department of Education’s role in this new era of accountability is to restore the rightful role of state oversight in education and to end overreach from Washington,” said education secretary Linda McMahon in a speech March 3. “Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make the best educational choices for their children. An effective transfer of educational oversight to the states will mean more autonomy for local communities. Teachers, too, will benefit from less micromanagement in the classroom — enabling them to get back to basics.”

The White House had been rumored to be drafting an executive order to unwind the Department of Education, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Eliminating the department would require congressional action.

North Carolina congressman David Rouzer, a Republican from the state’s 7th congressional district, has already introduced a bill that would eliminate the Department of Education. This year is the sixth attempt by Rouzer to push for its abolition, a proposal he first introduced after his initial election in 2014.

Separately, Michele Morrow, executive director of the National Alliance for Education Reform, has called for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, to take action against the Department of Education.

impact on NC

If these changes take effect, NC would need to redefine its roles and responsibilities in managing federal education funds, addressing teacher shortages, and expanding educational opportunities. Some view this as an opportunity to foster innovation at the state level.

“The federal government has no constitutional authority to dictate education policy. Education should be governed at the state and local levels, where parents, teachers, and communities are best positioned to make decisions for students,” said Dr. Robert Luebke, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation.

“The US Department of Education has become a bloated bureaucracy that drains resources from classrooms, imposes one-size-fits-all mandates, and undermines local innovation in education,” Luebke added. “Dissolving the department does not mean eliminating federal education funding. A better approach is to block-grant federal education dollars to the states, giving them the flexibility to allocate funds where they are most needed.”

Public opinion remains divided, with a Carolina Journal poll showing half of voters oppose the department’s elimination, though many Republicans and education stakeholders, like parents and teachers, favor the move.

Trump has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to support K-12 school choice initiatives. The order tasks the Departments of Labor, Education, Defense, and Health and Human Services to redirect funds and develop plans to expand educational options, including private and faith-based schools, particularly for low-income and military families. It also emphasizes using federal formula funds to support these initiatives.

The post What do US Department of Education layoffs mean for North Carolina? first appeared on Carolina Journal.