Shutdown Forces Mass Furloughs at Education Department
As the federal government shutdown begins Oct. 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education says roughly 87% of its workforce will be furloughed under a contingency plan, halting many investigations and pausing new grant awards while core student‑aid disbursements (Pell Grants, FAFSA processing and required loan servicing) continue. The article cites department figures — staff cut from about 4,100 in January to ~2,500 now, Office of Federal Student Aid planning to furlough 632 of 747 employees — and notes White House threats of permanent job cuts amid broader administration plans to shrink the agency.
Education
Politics
🔍 Key Facts
- Department of Education contingency plan says about 87% of staff will be furloughed during the shutdown (Oct. 1, 2025).
- The agency employed ~4,100 people when Trump took office; the headcount is about 2,500 now after earlier mass layoffs.
- Office of Federal Student Aid plans to furlough 632 of 747 employees; the federal student‑loan portfolio totals about $1.6 trillion affecting ~9.9 million students across 5,400 colleges.