'Going to be devastating': Laid off Dept. of Education worker speaks out on mass layoffs

Layoffs and Impact - The Department of Education laid off over 1,300 employees, approximately half of its workforce [1] - Delays are expected in the Department's work, particularly in federal student aid and K12 funding [5] - Concerns exist regarding the accuracy and availability of data, potentially impacting reports to Congress [6] - The layoffs may hinder the department's ability to meet congressional deadlines [5] Data Governance and Accountability - The laid-off employees were responsible for ensuring data quality and governance, crucial for responsible use of public funds [4] - The layoffs could compromise the department's ability to build evidence and demonstrate good stewardship as required by the Evidence Act of 2018 [11] - Accountability for taxpayer-funded money allocated to school districts is now in question [10][12] Government Spending and Efficiency - The Trump administration's deferred resignation program is reportedly paying over 154,000 federal employees not to work [7] - The layoffs are viewed as a waste of time and money, hindering good governance and the ability to serve the public [8][9]