President Donald Trump’s plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education encounter significant obstacles as vital functions remain necessary. Despite substantial reduction-in-force last year, the department’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is currently expanding its workforce. According to internal documents from NPR, FSA intends to hire approximately 380 new employees to support its critical operations.
FSA plays a crucial role in managing the nation’s student loan portfolio, which amounts to $1.7 trillion. It oversees communication with 43 million borrowers, repayment plans, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In April, an internal meeting highlighted FSA’s current staffing level of 731 full-time equivalent staff (FTEs), which is significantly reduced from the previous 1,440 under Trump’s administration. The department aims to recruit an additional 334 FTEs.
Rachel Gittleman, AFGE Local 252 president, noted the importance of these roles, asserting that they are essential for effective functioning of the federal student loan system. The hiring news, initially reported by Politico, indicates none of the new recruits are former employees returning to previous positions. According to Ellen Keast, the department’s press secretary for higher education, essential programs will continue despite the shift towards state-level education management.
“Returning education to the states and breaking up the federal education bureaucracy does not mean that critical programs won’t continue,” Keast stated.
FSA faces several challenges including new student loan limits, repayment plans, and deferred tasks. Additionally, a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation revealed lapses in reviewing loan servicing records and borrower interactions.
Secretary Linda McMahon admitted the reduction-in-force possibly went too far, acknowledging some staffing necessity. An example is the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where staffing cuts led to court reversals due to processing delays in civil rights complaints, costing taxpayers $28.5 million to $38 million.
Despite plans to transfer FSA responsibilities to the Treasury Department through interagency agreements, hiring efforts suggest Education Department personnel will remain engaged in departmental tasks. McMahon emphasized reclaiming leadership and accountability, striving for efficiency amid these organizational shifts.
Still, Senate hearings reveal confusion about these arrangements. McMahon informed legislators that Education Department staff would continue their duties across various federal departments. Her remarks confounded Sen. Tammy Baldwin, expressing skepticism about relocating staff to administer identical programs from different locations.
Some former FSA employees, aiming to reclaim similar positions, perceive the application process has evolved. Now, applicants face questions regarding constitutional commitment and government efficiency, as well as queries relating to advancing presidential policies. This process has initiated legal challenges, notable for its perceived loyalty emphasis.
One former employee shared their resolve, stating, “We just want our jobs. We took an oath to serve the public, and that’s what we want to do.”