Response to U.S. Department of Education Layoffs

Dear Pima Community College Community,

Earlier this week, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the immediate layoffs
of 1,315 Department of Education (ED) employees. These reductions, combined with employees who took
buyouts earlier this year, would cut the department’s workforce by nearly half. Secretary McMahon stated that
this move aligns with the administration’s goal of reducing the federal government’s role in education and
shifting responsibility to the states.

Currently, there is limited information on how these changes will affect specific programs and services that
students and colleges rely on. However, in the statement announcing the layoffs, Secretary McMahon stated
the following:

“The Department of Education will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s
purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and
competitive grantmaking.”

Yesterday, the attorneys general from twenty-one states, including Arizona, filed a lawsuit in federal court to
stop the announced staff reductions. As a result, the extent to which layoffs will take place is now unclear.

Pima Community College remains committed to ensuring that our students, faculty, and staff continue to
receive the support and resources they need to succeed. While the federal landscape is shifting, our mission remains the same: to provide high-quality, accessible education that empowers students and strengthens our community.

To help keep you informed, I encourage you to review the updated FAQs for College Employees on Executive Orders. This resource provides clear, practical guidance on recent federal policy changes and how they may impact our campus community. You can access the FAQs through this [link] or by navigating:

MyPima > Important Information (scroll down the left side navigation menu) > Executive Orders and Related Items.

These FAQs will be updated regularly as new information becomes available, with additional resources linked
in this section. If you have a question that is not currently addressed, please reach out to your campus vice president, site administrator, or contact Brian Stewart, Chief Cultural Impact Officer, at bstewart@pima.edu.

Should the College determine that significant policy or operational changes are required due to new federal mandates, we will communicate those updates broadly and provide clear guidance. Until then, I encourage
you to continue your essential work of empowering every learner, every day, for every goal—ensuring that our students receive the education, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

We will continue monitoring these developments and advocating for policies that support community colleges
and student success. As we learn more, we will keep you informed and engaged in discussions about how best to navigate this evolving situation.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and to the mission of Pima Community College.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey P. Nasse, Ph.D.
Chancellor, Pima Community College
chancellor@pima.edu