In a significant legal victory for educators and public education advocates, a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and reinstate over 1,300 employees who were laid off in March.
The ruling, delivered by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston, came in response to lawsuits filed by AFT, Massachusetts school districts, and a coalition of 21 attorneys general. The plaintiffs argued that the administration’s actions violated federal law and would severely impair the department’s ability to fulfill its congressionally mandated responsibilities, including special education support, financial aid distribution, and civil rights enforcement.
Judge Joun’s decision emphasized that the executive branch lacks the authority to unilaterally dismantle a federal agency established by Congress. He rejected the administration’s claim that the move was merely a reorganization aimed at improving efficiency, stating that the layoffs would likely “cripple” the department and hinder its statutory functions.
The Trump Administration, which had pledged to close the department as a campaign goal, maintained that the changes were intended to enhance efficiency. However, the court found no evidence supporting this claim and instead highlighted the potential harm to students and educators, particularly through the loss of vital services and financial instability.
AFT President Randi Weingarten hailed the ruling as a defense of educational integrity and service continuity, calling it “a first step to reverse this war on knowledge and the undermining of broad-based opportunity.”
The Department of Education has announced plans to appeal the ruling. In the meantime, the injunction ensures that the department must maintain its workforce and continue its operations as mandated by Congress.
This legal development underscores the importance of checks and balances in the federal government and reaffirms the critical role of the Department of Education in supporting students, educators, and communities nationwide. (It also underscores the value of having a national union taking the fight for well-funded, fully supported schools directly to Washington, D.C., decision-makers.)