President Trump has previously said he wants to eliminate the Department of Education completely.

Just yesterday, his administration slashed nearly 50 percent of its workforce.

William Brangham joins us now with more.

William.

Umna, 1,300 workers were laid off on Tuesday, on top of another 572 who took separation packages earlier.

It is an enormous reduction for the agency that's currently responsible for managing $1.5 trillion in college loans,

issuing guidance on civil rights laws, and providing funding for low-income schools.

So for more on how this will impact teachers and students, we are joined by John King.

He's the Chancellor for the State University of New York and was Education Secretary

under President Obama.

Chancellor King, thank you very much for being here.

The Trump administration argues that the current academic progress of American students, which is alarming and well documented,

is proof that the Federal Department of Education has failed in its mission, and thus it can be

dismantled. And I just wonder,

what's your response to that?

Unfortunately, they've got it exactly backwards. The education department has played a key

role in the progress we've made over the last 40 years in terms of student performance.

It's when the federal government is leaning in, providing clear accountability,

mobilizing the country to improve outcomes, particularly for low-income students,

students with disabilities, other vulnerable student populations that we've seen the most progress.

Where we stalled was when the first Trump administration

took office and then certainly COVID set the whole country back.

...