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Trump administration seeks to maintain job cuts at Education Department as lawful

The Justice Department argues before the Supreme Court that U.S. District Judge Myong Joun overstepped his jurisdiction in Boston last month, by granting a preliminary injunction to halt layoffs that had previously been agreed upon.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has appealed to the supreme court, asserting that Judge Myong Joun...
The U.S. Department of Justice has appealed to the supreme court, asserting that Judge Myong Joun in Boston overstepped his powers in issuing a preliminary injunction that blocked the layoffs last month.

Trump administration seeks to maintain job cuts at Education Department as lawful

In a major setback for President Trump's administration, a federal judge in Boston has put the brakes on the mass layoffs of Education Department staff, as part of the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the agency.

The White House's urgent plea to the Supreme Court last Friday aimed to put a hold on a court order that reversed the dismissal of nearly 1,400 employees and temporarily halted the department's winding down efforts. U.S. District Judge Myong Joun had issued this preliminary injunction in May, which has thwarted one of the President's key campaign promises.

Joun's order has essentially put the department's closure strategy on ice. A federal appeals court refused to suspend the order while the administration appealed.

Joun wrote in his order that the layoffs could "cripple the department." However, Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued on Friday that Joun was overstepping his bounds, substituting his policy preferences for those of the Trump administration.

The layoffs, Sauer asserted, facilitate the administration's aim to streamline the department and eliminate functions deemed discretionary by the administration, primarily devolved to state authorities. Sauer also highlighted that the Supreme Court in April had blocked an earlier order by Joun that aimed to maintain Education Department teacher-training grants.

The current legal battle involves two consolidated lawsuits that claim Trump's plan constitutes an illegal closure of the Education Department. One of the suits was filed by the Somerville and Easthampton school districts in Massachusetts, along with the American Federation of Teachers and other education groups. The other lawsuit comes from a coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general.

The lawsuits contend that the layoffs render the department incapable of fulfilling tasks mandated by Congress, such as responsibilities related to special education, financial aid distribution, and civil rights law enforcement.

Employees targeted by the layoffs have been on paid leave since March. Joun's order prevents the department from terminating them outright, but they have yet to be cleared to return to work. Without Joun's order in place, these workers were set to be terminated on Monday.

The Trump administration, as previously announced, seeks to shutter the Education Department, a goal achievable only through Congressional action. In the interim, Trump issued a March order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to shrink the department "to the greatest extent possible and in accordance with the law."

Trump has expressed his desire to devolve the Education Department's functions to other agencies, suggesting that federal student loans should be overseen by the Small Business Administration, and programs focused on students with disabilities should be handled by the Department of Health and Human Services. These modifications remain unrealized.

Trump argues that the Education Department has long been controlled by liberals and has failed to boost academic performance in the United States. He promises to "hand back education to the states."

In contrast, critics argue that K-12 education is already principally overseen by states and municipalities.

Democrats have blasted the Trump administration's Education Department budget, which seeks a 15% budget cut, including a $4.5 billion reduction in K-12 funding, as part of the agency's downsizing.

This report was prepared by Sherman of the Associated Press, with contributions from Collin Binkley.

Want to Know More?

Federal judge extends order withholding Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard

Appeals court upholds block on Trump administration's downsizing of the federal workforce

  1. In a move that could impact the federal workforce beyond just the Education Department, an appeals court has upheld a block on the Trump administration's downsizing plan.
  2. The same federal judge who halted the Education Department's layoffs has extended his order, preventing the Trump administration from enforcing its ban on foreign students at Harvard.
  3. In a separate case, a federal judge has also obstructed immigration authorities from revoking the legal status of international students.
  4. The government's general news section is abuzz with debates about policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts, but these court rulings have added a new layer to the discussion of immigration and education.
  5. The California business community has shown concern over these developments, as many tech companies rely on international students for their workforce, especially in the field of science and technology.
  6. Some politicians have taken to Twitter to express their views on these issues, with one prominent California lawmaker calling for a review of the Trump administration's immigration policy.
  7. In the midst of all this, the upcoming general election in California could influence the direction of immigration policy and the future of the Education Department.

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