Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team has announced significant reductions at the U.S. Education Department, terminating 89 contracts and 29 grants totaling over $900 million. The cuts, which primarily target the department’s research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences, have raised concerns about the future of critical education research and data collection.
The terminated contracts include projects tied to the What Works Clearinghouse, which identifies best practices in education, as well as initiatives addressing absenteeism and student behavioral challenges—issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants for diversity and equity training were also canceled.
The move comes less than two weeks after federal testing data revealed historic lows in reading achievement, underscoring the importance of research to address systemic challenges in education. Dana Tofig, a spokesman for the American Institutes for Research, noted that the cuts impact projects such as international student performance comparisons, school safety reports, and support systems for disabled youth.
Musk, who has criticized federal bureaucracy as wasteful and inefficient, defended the cuts during a press conference alongside former President Donald Trump. “We have this unelected, fourth unconstitutional branch of government, which is the bureaucracy,” Musk said, arguing that his team’s efforts align with public sentiment.
However, the cuts have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and researchers. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) called the move “the definition of wasteful,” emphasizing the importance of high-quality research for improving public schools. Chester E. Finn Jr., a former Education Department official, likened education research to medical research, stressing its foundational role in federal education policy.
The announcement has also sparked legal challenges. A federal judge temporarily barred Musk’s team from accessing sensitive student data systems after privacy concerns were raised by the University of California Student Association. The lawsuit alleges that Musk’s team, operating under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), may have improperly accessed personal information, including Social Security numbers and tax data.
During a hearing, Judge Randolph D. Moss expressed uncertainty about the extent of the team’s access to sensitive data and their official status within the department. Lawyers for the Justice Department admitted they lacked clarity on the matter.
Musk’s team has been embedded in the Education Department for over a week, with members added to the agency’s staff directory and working from its Washington headquarters. While the team’s mandate includes scrutinizing the department’s budget and operations, the abrupt cuts and lack of transparency have left staff and contractors scrambling to assess the impact.
