The Trump administration formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to intervene and halt an order that mandates the reinstatement of Education Department employees who were laid off as part of the President’s strategic plan to downsize the agency. The Justice Department’s urgent appeal contends that Judge Myong Joun in Boston overreached his judicial authority when he temporarily suspended the layoffs of nearly 1,400 employees, effectively derailing the broader initiative to diminish the department.
Judge Joun’s injunction has stalled one of Trump’s key campaign pledges and hindered progress in his efforts to phase out the department. A federal appeals court subsequently denied the administration’s request to lift the injunction while the case progresses.
In his ruling, Judge Joun expressed concern that the job losses could “cripple the department.” However, Solicitor General D. John Sauer opposed this view, asserting that the judge was prioritizing his policy preferences over the administration’s agenda. Sauer explained that the layoffs were intended to “streamline the department and eliminate functions that should be handled by the states” according to the administration’s perspective.
Highlighting an earlier Supreme Court decision, Sauer noted that the justices had voted 5-4 in April to block a previous order by Joun, which aimed to maintain certain teacher-training grants.
The current legal battle consists of two lawsuits claiming that Trump’s plan is tantamount to illegally dismantling the Education Department. One lawsuit was filed by Massachusetts school districts together with the American Federation of Teachers and other educational entities. The second suit was initiated by a group of 21 Democratic attorneys general.
Plaintiffs argue that the layoffs would incapacitate the department from fulfilling its congressionally mandated responsibilities, such as supporting special education, allocating financial aid, and enforcing civil rights legislation. The affected employees have been on paid leave since March, according to a union representative, with Joun’s order preventing final termination but not allowing their return to work. Without the current legal restraint, layoffs were imminent for the following Monday.
The Department of Education announced on Friday that it is “actively assessing how to reintegrate” the displaced employees. An internal email requested if workers have secured other employment opportunities—an initiative aimed at “facilitating a smooth and informed return.”
President Trump has been vocal about his intention to eliminate the Education Department, though he acknowledges that Congress alone holds the power to do so. He has tasked Education Secretary Linda McMahon with downsizing the department “to the maximum extent permitted by law” as outlined in a March directive.
While Trump has suggested transferring certain department functions to other entities—such as moving federal student loans to the Small Business Administration and handling programs for students with disabilities under the Department of Health and Human Services—these changes have not yet materialized.
Trump maintains that returning control of education to the states will yield improvements, arguing that the Education Department has not enhanced the country’s academic performance. Critics, however, note that K-12 education is already largely managed at the state and city levels.
The Trump administration’s proposed Education Department budget, which includes a 15% cut equating to a $4.5 billion reduction in K-12 funding, has been met with significant opposition from Democrats amid the continuing debate over the department’s future.