Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Condemns Massive Education Department Layoffs as "Bulls–t"
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat with a long history in education, sharply criticized the Trump administration’s announcement of significant workforce reductions at the U.S. Department of Education. The cuts, which involve terminating approximately half of the department’s employees, have sparked outrage among Democratic leaders and education advocates who fear the devastating consequences for public schools nationwide.
"I’m sorry, but that is bulls–t," Evers declared during a press call on Wednesday, expressing his frustration with the decision. "I know Wisconsin kids and our schools – getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education and making devastating cuts to public education would be a catastrophe, as simple as that."
The layoffs impact more than 1,300 employees at the department, which plays a crucial role in overseeing federal education policy and distributing billions of dollars in funding to individuals, states, and local schools. This wave of terminations follows an earlier round of 572 employees who accepted buyouts in exchange for their resignations. As a result, the Department of Education is now operating with just over half the number of employees it had at the beginning of President Trump’s second term.
Evers, a former teacher, principal, and superintendent, joined fellow Democratic governors and former educators Matt Meyer of Delaware and Tim Walz of Minnesota in a virtual meeting to express their shared concerns about the recent cuts. All three leaders voiced their strong disapproval of the administration’s actions and warned of the potential harm to students and schools.
"Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for cutting bureaucracy, but we cannot cut bureaucracy on the backs of our kids and their families," Meyer stated, emphasizing the importance of investing in education rather than undermining it.
The state leaders cautioned that dismantling or even weakening the Education Department could have detrimental effects on school budgets, leading to inflated class sizes, fewer resources for students in special education programs, and difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers. They argued that these cuts would disproportionately impact vulnerable students and exacerbate existing inequalities in the education system.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was particularly critical of Linda McMahon, Trump’s recently confirmed Secretary of Education. "Linda McMahon might be the most unqualified person to ever speak about public schools in this nation’s history," Walz asserted, questioning her expertise and understanding of the complexities of the education system.
McMahon, a billionaire GOP donor and former wrestling industry executive, defended the layoffs as part of a broader effort to reduce "bureaucratic bloat" and increase efficiency within the department. She argued that streamlining operations would ultimately benefit students and taxpayers.
"It’s a humanitarian thing to a lot of the folks that are there. They’re out of a job. But we wanted to make sure that we kept all of the right people and the good people," McMahon told Fox News on Tuesday evening, echoing President Trump’s language when discussing government-wide terminations.
McMahon also indicated that these layoffs were the first step towards the eventual closure of the Department of Education, a long-held goal of some conservative factions. This revelation further fueled the concerns of Democratic leaders and education advocates who view the department as essential for ensuring equal access to quality education for all students.
Governor Walz responded to McMahon’s statements with skepticism and criticism. "Saying she fired half the people but only the bad ones," Walz remarked the following morning. "She missed one. She missed one for sure, and that’s herself." His pointed comment reflected the widespread dissatisfaction with McMahon’s leadership and her approach to reforming the Education Department.
The Trump administration’s decision to significantly reduce the workforce at the Department of Education has sparked a fierce debate about the role of the federal government in education and the potential consequences of these cuts for students and schools across the country. Democratic leaders and education advocates argue that these actions will undermine public education and harm vulnerable students, while the administration maintains that they are necessary to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency. The impact of these changes on the education system remains to be seen, but the controversy surrounding them highlights the deep divisions over education policy in the United States.
