The Education Department’s Office of Inspector General said staffing reductions early in President Trump’s second term “appear” to have disrupted units performing statutory and oversight duties. The OIG report describes a reduction of at least 1,579 jobs out of 3,902 employees (about 40%) between Jan. 20, 2025, and March 31, 2025. The OIG said the cuts eliminated or left understaffed suboffices across 15 of the department’s 17 offices, including functions such as complaint investigations and compliance reviews affecting preschools, K-12 institutions, colleges, and other entities. It also found that termination of 90 grants totaling $504 million hit teacher training and mental health services hardest. The report also questioned the department’s response to OIG information requests, noting the agency withheld some documents and interview access amid ongoing litigation challenging the downsizing. The OIG did not issue recommendations, but its findings raise immediate compliance and oversight concerns for institutions relying on federal review and enforcement. Separately, the Associated reporting frames these staff reductions as part of a broader downsizing effort at the department, with downstream effects for civil rights and special education monitoring capacity.