Some current employees who are on leave said the action could disrupt the agency's core work, including the management of federal student loans and the FAFSA form for student financial aid. The workers spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a former teacher and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said Trump is “purging” employees for taking a training course that his administration encouraged them to take.
“This won’t help our kids learn or even save us money,” Murray said on the social media site X. “He’s just breaking services people rely on.”