Secretary of Education Linda McMahon drew the ire of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for sharing a teacher appreciation message on social media.
Monday was the beginning of Teacher Appreciation Week in the U.S., during which students and parents alike are encouraged to give gifts of gratitude to teachers.
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“I think teaching is one of the most noble professions,” McMahon said in a video on X. “I’d just like to take a moment to say thank you to all of our teachers all over our country.” Her post’s caption read, “Thank you for your devotion to educating the next generation.”
“Nothing says teacher appreciation like gutting the Department of Education and firing half of the people that make the agency run,” Warren wrote in response.
Warren was referring to the Education Department’s laid-off employees and the education funds that were transferred to the states. President Donald Trump made it clear that the department will still handle “Pell Grants, Title I funding, [and] resources for children with disabilities and special needs.”
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Of the Education Department’s initial 4,133 staff, 259 accepted a deferred resignation package, 313 accepted a $25,000 separation payment, and 63 probationary employees were let go in April. In addition, 1,315 more people will soon be laid off, leaving a little more than half of the original workforce, at 2,183.
The Department of Education was created by President Jimmy Carter 45 years ago.