Supreme Court Asked to Halt Reinstatement of Education Department Employees
The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to intervene in a lower court’s decision mandating the reinstatement of Education Department employees who were let go amid extensive layoffs. These layoffs were part of the administration’s broader strategy to dismantle the department.
The Justice Department filed an emergency appeal, arguing that U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston overstepped his authority with a preliminary injunction that reversed the layoffs of about 1,400 employees. This injunction has also stalled one of President Trump’s significant campaign promises of scaling down the department. Efforts to pause Joun’s order were previously rejected by a federal appeals court.
President Donald Trump holds a signed an executive order relating to school discipline policies as Education Secretary Linda McMahon listens in the Oval Office of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)
Judge Joun noted that the layoffs have the potential to “cripple the department.” However, Solicitor General D. John Sauer contended that Judge Joun was replacing his policy preferences with those of the administration. According to Sauer, the layoffs were intended to streamline the department, aligning with a policy that favours devolving certain functions to the states.
Earlier, the Supreme Court narrowly voted 5-4 in April to block an attempt by Joun to maintain teacher-training grants within the department. The ongoing case involves lawsuits arguing that Trump’s plan effectively amounts to an illegal closure of the department.
Legal actions were initiated by Massachusetts school districts Somerville and Easthampton, the American Federation of Teachers, and other education groups. Additionally, a coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general filed suit. The lawsuits claim that the layoffs impede the department’s ability to fulfill its congressional obligations, such as supporting special education, distributing financial aid, and enforcing civil rights laws.
Since March, affected Education Department employees have been on paid leave. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 252 indicated that Joun’s order has prevented their termination but not their return to work, although they were slated for termination soon.
The Education Department is reportedly considering how to reintegrate these employees. In a recent email, the department requested employees to disclose any new employment to facilitate their transition back to their roles.
President Trump has prioritized closing the Education Department, acknowledging that only Congress can authorize such action. In March, he directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to wind down the department as far as legally permissible. Proposed plans involve transferring federal student loan management to the Small Business Administration and assigning disability-related programs to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump argues that the department has been dominated by liberal ideologies and has not succeeded in improving the country’s academic performance, advocating for education to be administered by the states. Critics, however, emphasize that K-12 education is already primarily managed at the state and local levels.
Furthermore, the administration’s proposed 15% budget cut, including a $4.5 billion reduction in K-12 funding, has been met with criticism from Democrats.
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