Education Dept. Downsizing Rapidly Under Trump, Abandons DC Headquarters
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with its sweeping effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy—this time targeting the long-criticized Department of Education as part of a broader push to restore authority to states and reduce Washington’s footprint.
According to reporting from The Washington Post, the Department of Education will vacate its current headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.—the Lyndon B. Johnson Department of Education Building—with plans to transfer the facility to the Department of Energy.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the move as a logical next step in the administration’s reform agenda.
“We have made unprecedented progress in reducing the federal education footprint, and now we are pleased to give this building to an agency that will benefit far more from its space than the Department of Education,” McMahon said in a statement.
While the Department of Education—created by Congress in 1979—cannot be formally abolished without legislative approval, President Donald J. Trump has already taken aggressive steps to scale back its size and influence. Since returning to office, the administration has cut the agency’s workforce by roughly 50 percent, aligning with its broader mission to rein in federal overreach and decentralize authority.
Supporters in Congress have applauded the move as a long-overdue correction to decades of bureaucratic expansion. House Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg emphasized the fiscal and philosophical significance of the effort.
“Once again, the Trump administration is taking a strong step to reduce bureaucratic bloat and act as a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars,” Walberg said, per Politico. “President Trump and Secretary McMahon have been committed to right-sizing the Department so our education system serves students, not bureaucrats.”
Officials noted that the current Education Department headquarters is nearly 70 percent vacant, underscoring what critics say is the inefficiency of maintaining such a large federal presence. Relocating operations to a smaller office in Washington is projected to save approximately $4.8 million annually, with the transition expected to be completed by August.
At the same time, the administration is repurposing federal real estate to maximize efficiency. The Department of Energy’s aging James V. Forrestal Building will be vacated, with its operations moving into the former Education Department headquarters—an adjustment expected to yield substantial long-term savings.
“One year ago, President Trump signed one of the most consequential executive orders of his presidency — to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” McMahon added.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed that rationale, stating, “relocating to the LBJ building will deliver significant taxpayer savings and will ensure the Energy Department continues to deliver on its mission.”
A fact sheet released by the administration highlighted what it described as historic reforms, including expanded education freedom nationwide and increased flexibility for state leaders. It also pointed to the federal government’s track record, noting that more than $3 trillion has been spent on education bureaucracy since 1980 “with dismal results.”
“The Trump Administration has successfully decreased the scope of the federal education bureaucracy, so much that the headquarters building is no longer needed,” the fact sheet said. It added that the Department of Energy stands to save as much as $350 million annually through the consolidation.
The restructuring effort received a major legal boost last summer when the Supreme Court of the United States sided with the administration, allowing mass layoffs at the Department of Education to proceed.
In a brief, unsigned order, the justices paused a lower court ruling that had previously blocked the layoffs indefinitely. The decision cleared the way for immediate action while the broader case continues through the courts.
Within hours of the ruling, termination notices were sent to affected employees—many of whom had previously been reinstated by judicial order. According to CNN, one such notice informed workers that their employment would officially end on August 1.
“The Department appreciates your service and recognizes the difficulty of the moment,” the notice read. “This RIF action is not a reflection upon your performance or conduct and is solely due to agency restructuring, as described in previous correspondence.”