The Trump administration has begun dismantling the U.S. Department of Education by laying off about half of the agency's employees, casting uncertainty over how — or if — billions of federal dollars for California to help disadvantaged students and those with disabilities will be distributed,

The moves will cut the department from 4,133 workers when President Donald Trump began his second term in January to 2,183 workers. The significant cuts come as Trump is considering an executive order attempting to dismantle the agency and as all federal departments and agencies are preparing "large-scale reductions in force" ahead of a Thursday deadline ordered by Trump.

President Trump said he felt "very badly" for the federal workers who have lost their jobs under his administration but defended the decision by claiming "many of them don't work at all." Trump also stood by the decision to downsize the Department of Education and shift responsibility to the states.