The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced massive cuts of $881 million in Education Department contracts, according to Politico, which first broke the story with detailed financial implications. The sweeping changes include the termination of 89 contracts and 29 training grants focused on diversity, equity and inclusion programs totaling $101 million, claimed DOGE's X post.
According to the Politico report, the Trump administration's move particularly impacts the Education Department's Institute of Education Sciences, affecting approximately 170 contracts. The American Institutes for Research, a nonprofit organization conducting behavioral and social science research, confirmed to Politico that they received multiple termination notices for several IES contracts on Monday, highlighting the immediate impact of these cuts on ongoing research projects.
The Institute of Education Sciences, a crucial research division within the Department of Education, is facing severe disruption, NPR reveals. The research organization, responsible for collecting and sharing data on teaching practices and student achievement, has seen most of its contracts canceled.
One particularly concerning cancellation, which NPR learned from a source familiar with the contracts, involves an ongoing classroom program studying methods to help students nationwide recover from math learning losses. The mood among employees was somber during the Monday meeting, with NPR reporting that some fought back tears while questioning the future of IES. While most programs face termination, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as The Nation's Report Card, will continue operations for now.
These cuts align with President Trump's broader plan to close the Education Department, which currently employs over 4,000 people and manages a $79 billion annual budget. The president recently appeared on Fox News, announcing his intention to task Elon Musk with investigating the department for potential fraud and abuse. The timing of these changes is particularly significant as Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon prepares for her Congressional testimony on Thursday, setting the stage for potentially transformative changes in federal education policy.
DOGE cuts $881 million in education department contracts amid agency dismantling
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