New Delhi, March 12 -- As President Donald Trump continues to make efforts to reshape the federal government, the US Department of Education on Tuesday said it was firing almost half of its employees.

"As part of the Department of Education's final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force impacting nearly 50% of the Department's workforce," news agency AFP reported, quoting Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment.

The AFP report suggested that the move is likely to be the "opening gambit to dismantle" the education department, which has been under the radar of Republicans who have accused it of 'overreach'.

The education department had around 4,100 employees when Trump retu...