On March 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced significant layoffs at the Department of Education, cutting nearly 50% of its workforce as part of a broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government. The move has raised alarms about the potential dismantling of the department. Key offices, including the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Institute of Education Sciences, were among the hardest hit. With student aid, loan protection, and civil rights enforcement now in question, we spoke with students to hear their thoughts on the cuts — and how they believe these changes will affect their learning experiences and the future of those pursuing careers in education.
