Trump Education Department lays off most OELA staff during 90-day dissolution window

The Trump administration laid off most of the Office of English Language Acquisition's 15 employees in March 2025, leaving Beatriz Ceja-Williams as acting director and nearly the sole staff member. The layoffs advanced the administration's effort to reduce federal services for English learners and move toward declaring English the official language. Title III formula grants lost dedicated OELA expertise when moved to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. (Education Week, Apr. 14, 2026)