The U.S. Department of Education will cut half its staff under newly confirmed Secretary Linda McMahon to position the agency for possible closure. Officials said 1,315 employees will be laid off, the Washington Post reported. The department's head count will plummet from its previous 4,100 employees.

President Donald Trump announced recently that roughly half of the Education Department's staff was being cut, amid his contentious plans to axe the department altogether.

The layoffs call into question how agency will be able to handle major operations such as student loans, FAFSA, the Nation’s Report Card and civil rights complaints.