I have served at the U.S. Department of Education twice—once as a career civil servant and later as deputy undersecretary and acting assistant secretary. I took immense pride in serving students with dignity and purpose in both roles. I continue to be inspired by the unwavering dedication of the department’s career employees—public servants who have committed their lives to advancing educational opportunity in every corner of this country.
That is why this week’s developments have bothered me immensely. I am grieving for the thousands of committed professionals who have lost their jobs. These people have spent years, even decades, working to support students, families, and educators. I want them to know that their work has mattered. Their contributions have shaped lives, and their impact will not be erased.
But my sadness extends beyond the department’s workforce—I am deeply troubled for the nation and our students, from early childhood through higher education. As I reflect on the human casualties that resulted from the wrecking ball that has certainly destabilized our educational system, I must ask: Now what?
Education is a shared responsibility. States and school districts oversee much of K-12 education—they hire teachers, set curriculum, and work closely with families. But the federal government plays a critical, though distinct, role. It provides resources that states alone cannot, like funding for students with disabilities and low-income and rural schools. It upholds civil rights protections, ensuring every student has access to education. It supports students by facilitating financial aid, protecting against fraud, and ensuring the integrity of our higher education system. And the department’s research and data provide transparency, helping us understand what works and what does not.
Students, families, and educators rely—often unknowingly—on the Education Department’s programs and safeguards. But after Tuesday’s devastating purge of the department’s workforce, we are left with far more questions than answers.
Over 1,300 employees were terminated, following approximately 600 voluntary buyouts. The cuts hit some of the department’s most essential offices, including:
- Federal Student Aid, which manages financial aid and the already beleaguered FAFSA system;
- The Office for Civil Rights, which enforces laws protecting students from discrimination; and,
- The Institute of Education Sciences, which produces critical education research and data.
So, now what?
- Will the processing of federal student aid be disrupted?
- Will students with disabilities continue to receive the services to which they are legally entitled?
- Will schools serving low-income and rural communities still receive the federal support they need?
- Will the Office for Civil Rights continue to enforce anti-discrimination protections?
- Will we still have access to high-quality, transparent data on student learning and outcomes?
These cuts weaken the Department of Education and our nation. Eliminating nearly half of the department’s workforce is not a cost-saving measure; it is a direct attack on the students, families, and educators who rely on its services. Those of us who care about America’s talent pipeline, economic strength, and national security should be deeply concerned about what comes next.
It is hard to imagine how gutting the agency responsible for ensuring fairness, accountability, and educational opportunities will help our country. It would open the door to waste, fraud, and abuse—and most importantly, it would put all of us, especially vulnerable students, at risk.
Finally, now what?
Michelle Asha Cooper, a former deputy undersecretary for the Education Department, is vice president for public policy and executive director of the Washington, D.C., office for Lumina Foundation, an independent private foundation in Indianapolis committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.