The U.S. Department of Education this week announced it’s laying off half of its 4,200 employees as President Donald Trump says he want to eliminate the department altogether.

Congressman Tim Walberg, chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, tells us it may be painful to some, but if the department can be rightsized, then it should be done. If Trump seeks to eliminate the department, will Walberg’s committee have to be involved?

“Yes, of course, in the end we will have to be,” Walberg said. “We have the policy areas, so we’ll be working with the Secretary of Education. I was on the phone with her yesterday, and our efforts are going to be taking care of. As I’ve said, the three most important issues in education and workforce, that being the student, the parent, and the teacher.”

Walberg says savings that result from cuts to the Department of Education can be passed on to teachers and students.

“We could do block granting, especially for K-12 education. There are some things that we still have legal responsibilities, IDEA, for students with disabilities.”

Walberg stopped short of saying he wants to eliminate the department, but said it can be downsized. He also says since the department’s inception, education in the United States has only gotten worse.

The Education Department sent “reduction in force” notices to more than 1,000 employees Tuesday. It’s also terminating its leases on buildings in several major cities.