Straight From the Project 2025 Playbook, this Reduction in Force is a Calculated Step to Further Destabilize the Lives of Students and Working Families
March 11, 2025 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tonight, President Trump announced a 50 percent reduction in force, the first step in the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The effort comes right out of the radical, right-wing Project 2025 playbook which calls for the Secretary of Education to take all necessary steps to shutter ED and return authority over education to the states.
The President does not have the authority to singlehandedly abolish ED, however the action comes amidst a wave of changes that have already caused chaos and disruption for millions of families and deprived borrowers of consumer protections and rights they are entitled to under federal law. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration intentionally broke the student loan system, cutting off access to all affordable repayment options by removing Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) applications, gutting an array of grant programs, and purging dozens of civil servants, including staff charged with responding to borrower complaints and ensuring defrauded students get relief.
In response, SBPC Policy Director Aissa Canchola Bañez released the following statement:
“To be clear, only Congress has the power to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, and poll after poll has shown that the American people do not want to see this happen. Gutting ED from the inside by mass firing dedicated staff is nothing more than a shameful effort to throw political red meat to President Trump’s base—and students, borrowers, and families will pay the price.
“These civil servants were working to ensure students and families can pay for college, working to protect students and families from predatory for-profit colleges, and holding servicers accountable for pushing millions further into debt. Today’s announcement makes it crystal clear—President Trump and Secretary McMahon could not care less about making sure students, borrowers, and working families get the support and resources they need, and instead are intent on inflicting mass chaos and disruption across our education system.”
Further Reading
SBPC press release on Public Service Loan Forgiveness Executive Order: Advocates Blast Trump Plans to Sign Executive Order to Weaponize Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Stifle Free Speech Across America
SBPC poll showing strong opposition to Trump’s plans to close U.S. Department of Education: New Poll Confirms: Trump’s Plan to Abolish Department of Education is Extremely Unpopular Among Voters
SBPC analysis quantifying the economic toll of Project 2025 on student loan borrowers: New Data Reveals Economic Toll of Project 2025’s Attacks on Public Service Workers, Would Force Millions to Pay $250 Billion in Additional Student Loan Debt
SBPC state-by-state map of Project 2025 harm: https://protectborrowers.org/project-2025-pslf-state-by-state-map/
SBPC blog on the harms of gutting the U.S. Department of Education and confirming Linda McMahon as the leader of the remnants: Critical Trump Administration Nominees Should Raise Major Red Flags for Working Families with Student Debt
SBPC letter to the Senate HELP Committee opposing Linda McMahon’s nomination: See Here
SBPC blog listing out 20 questions for HELP to ask Linda McMahon in her nomination hearing: 20 Questions for Linda McMahon After the Trump White House Blocks All Federal Agency Grants and Loans
SBPC blog outlining concerns with critical Trump cabinet nominees: Critical Trump Administration Nominees Should Raise Major Red Flags for Working Families with Student Debt
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About Student Borrower Protection Center
Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) is a nonprofit organization focused on eliminating the burden of student debt for millions of Americans. We engage in advocacy, policymaking, and litigation strategy to rein in industry abuses, protect borrowers’ rights, and advance racial and economic justice.
Learn more at protectborrowers.org or follow SBPC on Twitter @theSBPC.