Inspector General Report Investigates Full Scope of DOGE Cuts at ED

A new Inspector General report released on June 24, 2026, analyzes the DOGE-driven cuts at the Education Department during the first few months of the Trump administration. During this time, ED slashed $1.3 billion in contracts and terminated $504 million in grants, while nearly 1,600 staff members either took buyouts or were laid off. Inside Higher Ed reports that the Institute of Education Sciences bore the brunt of the cuts, with 97 contracts totaling $1.1 billion canceled, and the staff of 191 employees was cut to just 30, leaving multiple offices without staff to carry out congressionally mandated research. The Office of Inspector General noted that its review was limited because ED did not provide all information and required legal counsel to be present during staff interviews, breaking with longstanding practice.