Research projects and services came to a sudden standstill as Trump abruptly revoked nearly $900 million in Education Department contracts.

One argument the Trump administration has made to close the Education Department is to cut wasteful spending. Elon Musk, as head of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was scrutinizing jobs to cut at the department, according to an internal phone call whose details were reported by The New York Times this month.