Court Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle U.S. Education Department
Trump blocked from dismantling the Education Department as an appeals court upheld a lower court’s decision to stop the shutdown and mass firings.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled on June 4, 2025, siding with Democratic-led states, teachers’ unions, and school districts.
1st Circuit Denies DOJ Request to Proceed
The Department of Justice had hoped for a fast ruling to escalate the matter to the conservative-leaning Supreme Court, but the appeals court denied the request to pause the injunction issued by Judge Myong Joun.
Joun previously ruled that the mass terminations constitutes an illegal attempt to close the department, which was established by Congress in 1979.
Linda McMahon’s Controversial Layoffs
In March, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the termination of over 1,300 employees, calling it the “first step” in eliminating bureaucratic bloat.
When combined with 600 voluntary buyouts, the move would shrink the agency’s workforce from 4,133 to 2,183—nearly half its original size.
Officials placed affected workers on administrative leave and guaranteed them full pay and benefits through June 9.
Trump’s Executive Order Sparks Legal Backlash
Just a week after McMahon’s announcement, Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the agency.
His plan included:
- Transferring student loans to the Small Business Administration
- Moving special education and nutrition services to the Department of Health and Human Services
Trump campaigned on shifting control of schools to state and local governments, appealing to conservative voters.
Court: Only Congress Can Eliminate the Department
Judge Joun stated that the administration’s cuts made it “effectively impossible” for the Department to fulfill its legal duties.
While the administration insists this is a “personnel decision,” the court ruled that abolishing a federal agency needs Congressional approval.
The Education Department has notified employees of the court ruling and pledged to comply, even as it pursues an appeal.
Source: USA Today
