Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Firing of 500 U.S. Department of Education Staff

Healey-Driscoll Administration Sounds Alarm Over Donald Trump’s Firing of 500 U.S. Department of Education Staff 

BOSTON – Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler issued the following statements today on President Donald Trump’s U.S. Department of Education weekend firing spree, which he started by laying off 466 U.S. Education Department staffers on Friday. 

"Donald Trump is weaponizing the shutdown to fire hard-working educators. Because of President Trump’s actions, our kids will lose the mental health care, tutoring, and special education they need. This needs to stop. The White House needs to end this shut down and reverse this decision immediately," said Governor Healey.  

“It is unfathomable that the Trump Administration has fired nearly 500 U.S. Department of Education staff and intentionally did so using the guise of a federal shutdown and during a holiday weekend. The Department plays a critical role in safeguarding equal access to public education through transparency and accountability. Firing most of the office that handles special education, in addition to staff who support HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, TRIO programs, afterschool programs and more, is going to harm all students, gutting civil rights protections especially for students with disabilities and low incomes,” said Secretary Tutwiler. "Massachusetts does not have the resources to replace the oversight, research, technical assistance and support the federal government provides families and school districts. Make no mistake – this action is going to exacerbate longstanding challenges around wealth inequality and make it harder for students to access IEPs, mental health supports, tutoring and so much more. The fight to protect students’ civil rights is urgent. In Massachusetts, we will continue to fight for every student to have access to a high-quality public education and equitable access to affordable higher education opportunities.” 

Massachusetts receives over $2 billion in federal education funding a year. The state is not able to fully replace these funds. The funding helps Massachusetts’ students, educators, schools, campuses, and communities. It helps low- and middle-income students afford to go to college. It provides funding to districts in low-income areas to help pay for teacher salaries and benefits, school counselors, and homeless liaisons. It also supports special education, including paying for assistive technology for students with disabilities, professional development and salaries for special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading specialists, as well as transportation to help students get the services and programming they need and supports those services, like physical therapy, speech therapy, and social workers. 

Offices impacted within the U.S. Department of Education as of 10/14/2025 include: 

• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 

• Office of Post Secondary Education (Student Support Services/TRIO; Institutional Service/HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges ANAPISI) 

• Office for Civil Rights 

• Office of Communications and Outreach 

• Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development 

• Office of Elementary and Secondary Education 

  • Office of Innovation and Early Learning 

  • Office of School Community Improvement Programs 

  • Well Rounded Education Divisions (Arts Education) 

  • Charter Schools Program 

  • Office of Safe and Supportive Schools 

  • Program and Grantee Support Services 

  • Comprehensive Literacy State Development 

  • JAVITS (Gifted and Talented) 

  • School Support and Accountability 

  • Office of Formula Grants 

  • Office of Migrant Education 

  • Effector Educator Development Program 

  • Innovation and Early Learning Programs 

  • Effective Development Division 

  • Program and Grantee Support Services