More than 1,300 federal employees affected by the reduction in March 11, the Ministry of Education received their official separation notification on Thursday, according to a copy that was reviewed by ABC News.
“With great regret, I have to tell you that your position is being abolished and you have been contacted for the reduction of actions (RIF),” the notification was read, in part.
Educational Secretary Linda McMahon attended the signing of the executive order to close the Department of Education by US President Donald Trump, during the event at the East Room at the White House in Washington, March 20, 2025.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
RIF is one of the first major steps in a large amount of reduction in the Department of Education after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directed the Educational Secretary Linda McMahon to close the agency on March 20.
Both Trump and McMahon have suggested they will continue to reduce the size of the agency and restore the power of education and decisions to the state.
The President has said that RIF employees do not appear to work or they are not good at their work. But the notification explains that separation is not based on performance evaluation – it is caused by “reducing the number of positions” in the agency. The notification also said that employees have the right to submit an appeal for this reduction.
In addition, stopping people without going through civil service protection is “illegal,” according to the Head of Policy and Legislative Affairs Naacp Patrice Willoughby.
“What they do is illegal,” Willoughby told ABC News. “They know it is illegal. This creates damage to people. They not only damage what they say is a deep state -a truly dedicated federal worker who works professionally on behalf of the family of education and young people but they also damaged these families and these children in this community, many of them chose this administration and constituents of the senators and representatives, who said what about it.”
The letter sent on Thursday is a 60 day notification needed to warn federal employees about their last days, according to sources who are familiar with the problem. Until 60 days ended, employees affected by paid administrative leave. On June 10, they will no longer be employed.
“Ed appreciates the services you have provided,” said the notification, added, “We are very sorry that this decision affects you, and we recognize the current difficulties.”
Last month the department announced that around half of the more 4,000 employees were eliminated either through reduction, voluntary separation or retirement. Dozens of more probation employees were released – and then re -employed after the court order canceled the termination of administrative employment relations.
Head of Human Capital Officer Jacqueline Clay sent an official email, with the subject of notification of separation due to reducing strength, between 3 and 4 pm ET together with related documents, including information about the benefits of employees and severance pay.
The notification was sent in accordance with the executive order entitled Applying the Optimization of the “Department of Government Efficiency” President “of the President, according to a copy that was reviewed by ABC News.
Over the past month, affected civil servants have cleaned their offices – if they work directly – and are no longer permitted in the buildings of the Ministry of Education. They do not have work responsibilities, and they do not have access to email or system and server.
Civil servants who shared notifications with ABC News said the letters made the reduction feel “more real.”
“It is very sad for us but also students who are undoubtedly will be disadvantaged by this,” an employee who received a notification to ABC News.
Other department employees whose entire offices were eliminated said that they felt numb.
“We know that it will come but it is still difficult to believe,” they said, added, “There is no explanation why the office is abolished. My office is mandated by a congress and is needed legally. There is no answer.”