The Department of Education set to cut 50% percent of its workforce

(CNN) The Department of Education Offices are being temporarily closed so layoffs can begin.
Top officials at the department announced Tuesday that nearly 50-percent of the workforce is being cut.

About 41-hundred people worked for the department — before the layoffs.
employees received a memo Tuesday telling them to vacate their offices and to work from home Wednesday.
Officials say the temporary change is due to layoffs.

Those impacted by the cuts will go on administrative leave beginning March 21st.
The layoffs will take effect in 90 days.