US Education Department to sack 1,300 workers as Trump vows to close agency

Linda McMahon told employees to brace for profound cuts (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The US Education Department plans to sack more than 1,300 of its more than 4,000 employees as part of a reorganisation that is seen as a prelude to president Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.

Department officials announced the cuts on Tuesday, raising questions about the agency’s ability to continue usual operations.