Despite the lack of staffing, the Education Department's workload just grew. After President Trump signed his massive tax and spending bill into law, the agency was tasked with implementing two new loan repayment programs, as well as a complex system for holding colleges accountable.

In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the Supreme Court paused a lower court order that had reinstated 1,400 Education Department employees laid off by the Trump's administration.