Education Secretary Linda McMahon said massive layoffs Tuesday were the “first step” toward accomplishing President Trump’s goal of eliminating the agency — and insisted the cuts won’t affect educational programs.

The recent layoffs at the US Department of Education mark the beginning of the Trump administration's broader effort to eliminate what Secretary Linda McMahon calls "bureaucratic bloat." McMahon confirmed the cuts are part of a plan to reduce federal control and redirect funding to state-level education.