The Department of Education under President Trump initiated sweeping layoffs Tuesday night, sending “reduction in force” notices to more than a thousand employees shortly after 6 p.m. ET. The department ultimately plans to slash nearly half of its 4,

An email sent to employees at the Education Department told staff not to come into work on Wednesday. Callie Carmichael and Ariana Triggs

The Education Department plans to lay off over 1,300 of its more than 4,000 employees as part of a reorganization that’s seen as a prelude to President Donald Trump’s plan to shut down the agency

The Education Department plans to lay off more than 1,300 of its employees as part of an effort to halve the organization’s staff -- a prelude to President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency

By Alexandra Alper, Tim Reid, Marisa Taylor and Nathan Layne WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Education said on Tuesday it would lay off nearly half its staff, a possible precursor to closing its doors altogether,