Trump's Education Purge Supreme Court to Decide if Layoffs Stay

Trump Administration Appeals to Supreme Court Over Education Department Layoffs

The Trump administration is escalating its battle to restructure the Education Department, appealing to the Supreme Court to uphold mass layoffs that a lower court had blocked. This move follows President Trump's long-standing pledge to significantly downsize the agency, a promise that has faced considerable legal challenges.

On Friday, the Justice Department filed an emergency appeal urging the Supreme Court to pause a court order that reinstated Education Department employees who were terminated as part of the administration's restructuring plan. The heart of the issue lies in a ruling by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston, who issued a preliminary injunction last month reversing the layoffs of nearly **1,400** employees and effectively halting the broader initiative.

Judge Joun's decision has been a major roadblock to President Trump's campaign promise to dismantle the Education Department. A federal appeals court previously declined to put Judge Joun's order on hold while the administration pursued its appeal.

The judge stated that the layoffs “will likely cripple the department.”

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that Judge Joun was overstepping his authority and substituting his own policy preferences for those of the Trump administration. Sauer emphasized that the layoffs are crucial to:

• Streamlining the department
• Eliminating discretionary functions
• Returning responsibilities to the states, which the administration believes are better suited to handle them

Sauer also highlighted a previous Supreme Court decision in April, where the court voted **5-4** to block Judge Joun’s order seeking to maintain Education Department teacher-training grants.

The current legal battle stems from two consolidated lawsuits alleging that Trump's plan effectively amounts to an illegal closure of the Education Department. The suits were filed by:

• The Somerville and Easthampton school districts in Massachusetts
• The American Federation of Teachers
• Other education groups
• A coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general

These groups argue that the layoffs would leave the department unable to fulfill its mandated responsibilities, including:

• Supporting special education
• Distributing financial aid
• Enforcing civil rights laws

President Trump has been vocal about his desire to shut down the Education Department, acknowledging that Congress ultimately holds the power to do so. In March, he directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to wind down the department "to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law."

The administration has suggested that the department's functions could be distributed to other agencies, with federal student loans potentially managed by the Small Business Administration and programs for students with disabilities absorbed by the Department of Health and Human Services. However, these changes have yet to materialize.

President Trump contends that the Education Department has been infiltrated by liberals and has failed to improve the nation's academic performance. He has repeatedly promised to "return education to the states." Critics point out that K-12 education is already largely managed at the state and local levels.

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

This appeal to the Supreme Court marks a critical juncture in the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the Education Department. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of federal involvement in education policy and the lives of countless students and educators across the nation. The court's decision will undoubtedly be closely watched by all stakeholders in the education sector.

Tags: Donald Trump, Education Department, Mass Layoffs, Supreme Court, Court Order, Justice Department, Myong Joun, Republican President, Campaign Promises, US News

Source: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-education-layoffs-79a160b71db85aa060b11de58926a276