Three former U.S. Department of Education secretaries and a federal employee union leader formally requested an investigation into the agency’s mass layoffs on Tuesday. The group sent a letter to Mark Priebe, the department’s acting inspector general, asking for a review of the financial costs and operational impacts of the workforce reductions.
The signatories included former Education Secretaries Arne Duncan, John B. King Jr., and Miguel Cardona. They were joined by Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252. The letter specifically asked Priebe to examine the expenses associated with reinstating and rehiring hundreds of employees following the controversial cuts.
The request comes amid ongoing legal and political battles over the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal education agency. President Donald Trump appointed Linda McMahon as Education Secretary to lead the restructuring effort. In March 2025, the department announced a reduction in force (RIF), following an executive order from Trump outlining the plan to shrink the agency.
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily approved the mass layoffs and downsizing plan in July 2025. The RIF took effect in early August 2025 after the high court’s ruling. Gittleman stated that roughly 1,000 workers were unlawfully terminated or forced into retirement during that period.
The letter also questioned a separate effort in October 2025 to fire nearly 500 employees. That specific action was paused by a court and ultimately stopped by Congress. The former secretaries and union leader sought clarity on the broader implications of these actions for the 46-year-old department.
A press conference was held outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to highlight the concerns. Democratic lawmakers and labor leaders spoke at the event, criticizing the administration’s approach to dismantling parts of the Department of Education. U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland joined Gittleman at the podium, along with U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia.
“We need a full picture of the fraud, waste and abuse carried out by this administration as they continue to play politics rather than doing their jobs to serve the American people,” Gittleman said during the press conference.
In response to the criticism, a department spokesperson defended the layoffs. The spokesperson criticized the former secretaries’ records regarding Common Core implementation, FAFSA processes, and gender definitions in education. The department maintained that the reduction in force was implemented in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws.
The controversy extends beyond personnel cuts. The administration has signed more than a dozen interagency agreements to offload Education Department responsibilities to other federal agencies. These agreements involve departments including Health and Human Services, Labor, Interior, State, Justice, and Treasury.
Congressional action has also emerged regarding these transfers. A Senate education panel advanced a bipartisan bill in July to block interagency agreements that would transfer certain education programs. The legislation covers special education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, and Native American education. Additionally, a House education panel advanced a package earlier that month aimed at reducing the department’s responsibilities.
The situation reflects broader tensions over the role of federal agencies in education policy. While the administration argues for reduced federal oversight, critics contend that the rapid downsizing disrupts essential services and violates employment protections. The request for an inspector general investigation marks a formal escalation in efforts to scrutinize the financial and legal ramifications of the department’s restructuring.
For Idaho educators and taxpayers, these federal shifts may impact funding streams and program administration. Rural school districts often rely on federal grants managed by the Department of Education, making any disruption to agency operations a matter of local concern. As NEA Leaders Visit North Idaho to Address Rural School Funding Challenges, state-level advocates continue to monitor how federal policy changes affect classroom resources.
The outcome of the inspector general’s review could influence future legal challenges and legislative efforts to stabilize the department. Until then, the debate over the proper scope of federal education involvement remains a central issue in national politics.