May 22, 2025 Story by: Publisher
In a significant legal setback for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday halting the planned mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education.
The judge’s decision mandates the reinstatement of employees who were terminated as part of the administration’s efforts to dismantle the department.
The layoffs, announced on March 11, 2025, by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, aimed to reduce the department’s workforce by over 1,300 employees.
The administration framed this move as a step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education. However, Judge Joun found that the layoffs would severely impair the department’s ability to carry out essential functions mandated by Congress, including support for special education, distribution of financial aid, and enforcement of civil rights laws.
The lawsuit challenging the layoffs was filed by the Somerville and Easthampton school districts in Massachusetts, the American Federation of Teachers, and other education groups. They argued that the layoffs effectively constituted an unlawful shutdown of the department without Congressional approval.
In his ruling, Judge Joun emphasized that the administration’s actions posed risks of irreparable harm to students and educators due to the loss of vital services and financial uncertainty. He stated that the layoffs would “severely impair the Department’s ability to carry out essential functions mandated by Congress.”
The Trump administration has maintained that the layoffs were intended to improve efficiency and insisted that a department closure would need congressional approval. However, the court found that the reorganization plan posed risks of irreparable harm to students and educators due to loss of vital services and financial uncertainty.
This ruling marks a significant setback to President Trump’s campaign goal of eliminating the Department of Education. It also underscores the judiciary’s role in checking executive actions that may overstep legal boundaries.
The Department of Education has not yet issued a statement in response to the ruling. It remains to be seen whether the administration will appeal the decision or revise its approach to restructuring the department.
This case is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges to the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. Similar lawsuits have been filed against proposed layoffs in other departments, including Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration.
As the legal battles continue, the future of the Department of Education and other federal agencies remains uncertain. However, Judge Joun’s ruling affirms the principle that significant changes to federal agencies require adherence to established legal procedures and Congressional oversight.
Source: AP News / Politico / Reuters / The Washington Post
