The Education Department plans to lay off more than 1,300 of its employees as part of an effort to halve the organization’s staff -- a prelude to President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.

The U.S. Department of Education is expected to cut approximately half of its 4,000 employees in sweeping layoffs set to begin on Tuesday evening, CNN reported, citing three people familiar with the plan.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed his administration's efforts to lay off about half of the Education Department staff.