Department of Education lays off nearly 50% of its workforce

The Department of Education initiated mass layoffs on Tuesday night, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, sources told ABC News.

The "reduction in force" notices began to go out at about 6 p.m.

Some 1,315 employees were affected by the RIFs, leaving 2,183 employed by the department, according to senior officials at the DOE.

Impacted staff will be placed on administrative leave starting March 21, a statement from the Education Department said. They will receive full pay and benefits through June 9, senior officials added.

The statement also said that the DOE will "continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency's purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking."

"Today's reduction in force reflects the Department of Education's commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers," said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon shortly after the notifications went out on Tuesday.

"I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department," she said. "This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system."

The downsizing impacts “every” sector of the department in some way, according to senior department of education officials.

“This is primarily a streamlining effort for internal facing roles and not external facing roles,” senior officials said.

Following the flurry of layoff notifications, those who remained employed by the DOE received their own email. ABC News obtained a copy, which said, in part: "As we move forward, our mission and responsibilities will remain, but there will need to be significant changes to the way that we work. What we choose to prioritize, and in turn, not prioritize, will be critical in this transition."

"Please know that these decisions were not made lightly, and in no way reflect on the dedication and hard work of those who are leaving," it said, before referring to this moment as the DOE's "final mission" and suggesting: "Let's continue to move forward as a team."

In next steps, six communications offices are going to be consolidated, officials explained, and leases will end in major cities including San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago and Dallas.

The three DOE buildings in Washington, D.C., will also eventually be consolidated, according to the senior officials.

The announcement came shortly after DOE employees were told that their offices -- including those in the National Capital Region, along with regional locations -- would be closed for the day on Wednesday.

Citing "security reasons," an email went out saying that the buildings would be inaccessible starting at 6 p.m., a source within the department told ABC News.

"You must vacate the building by that time," a department email to employees reads in part, adding "All ED offices in the NCR and the regions will be closed to employees and contractor employees on Wednesday, March 12th."

Senior officials later elaborated that the safety precautions were meant to protect the remaining employees who retained their positions with the DOE.

The email also instructed employees to take their laptops home with them after work on Tuesday.

"Please take your laptop with you when you depart on Tuesday. Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday March 12th for any reason.? All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13th, at which time in-person presence will resume," the email said.

The email also said that employees with approved telework agreements may work from home; however, such telework agreements are largely no longer in place, an employee told ABC News. The DOE called for its total workforce to return to its offices late last month.

The closure notification comes as President Donald Trump weighs an executive order to shutter the agency and transfer education oversight to the states. The decision to sign that order was delayed due to concerns over questions the administration might get about vital programs that could potentially be gutted by it.

Inside the department, employees are bracing for uncertain futures.

"People are petrified to do their jobs," an Education Department employee told ABC News recently. "People are worried about like, if I push back on something that somebody wants to do, right, and I say, that's not really what the law says or is legal, am I going to get a bad performance and now they use a bad performance to kick me out?"

"Everyone here is holding their breath," the DOE employee added.

National Education Association President Becky Pringle released a statement in response to the layoffs on Tuesday, saying: "Firing -- without cause -- nearly half of the Department of Education staff means they are getting rid of the dedicated public servants who help ensure our nation's students have access to the programs and resources to keep class sizes down and expand learning opportunities for students so they can grow into their full brilliance. The Trump administration has abandoned students, parents, and educators across the nation."