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Trump's Education Staff Cuts Cost Taxpayers Up to $38M

2/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

GAO finds that under U.S. President Donald Trump, the effort to fire staff at the U.S. Department of Education cost taxpayers between $28.5 million and $38 million.
The Office for Civil Rights placed 247 staff on nine months' administrative leave.
Education officials said they analyzed the staff cuts but did not provide documentation.
The OCR's dismissal rate for discrimination complaints rose to 90% between March and September 2025.

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Story summary

GAO finds that under U.S. President Donald Trump, the effort to fire staff at the U.S. Department of Education cost taxpayers between $28.5 million and $38 million.
The Office for Civil Rights placed 247 staff on nine months' administrative leave.
Education officials said they analyzed the staff cuts but did not provide documentation.
The OCR's dismissal rate for discrimination complaints rose to 90% between March and September 2025.