Democratic-Led States Sue Trump Admin over Plan Education Jobs Cuts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ 20 states and Washington, D.C., sued the Trump administration over massive layoffs at the Education Department. The lawsuit claims the cuts illegally dismantle the agency and jeopardize school funding, financial aid, and civil rights enforcement. The Education Department is down to half its former workforce, following buyouts and firings. Trump has long sought to eliminate the department, calling it wasteful and ideologically biased. New York Attorney General Letitia James vowed legal action to stop what she called a reckless and illegal attack on education.
States Sue Trump Over Education Layoffs – Quick Looks
- Federal lawsuit filed: 20 Democratic-led states and D.C. are challenging the Trump administration’s education layoffs in federal court.
- Allegations of illegality: The lawsuit argues only Congress can shut down or dismantle the Education Department.
- Impact on schools and students: The layoffs could disrupt public school funding, financial aid, and civil rights protections.
- Education workforce slashed: The department has been cut in half since Trump took office, with 1,300 jobs lost this week alone.
- New York Attorney General speaks out: Letitia James calls the layoffs an “outrageous” attack on students’ right to education.
Democratic-Led States Sue Trump Admin over Education Jobs Cuts
Deep Look: States Sue Trump Over Education Department Layoffs
Legal Battle Over Education Cuts
A coalition of 20 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., sued the Trump administration on Thursday, arguing that mass layoffs at the Education Department violate federal law.
The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court, alleges that the cuts are so extreme that the department can no longer function properly. It also claims the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the agency without congressional approval.
“These job cuts will severely harm public schools, delay financial aid, and undermine enforcement of civil rights laws in education,” the lawsuit states.
What’s at Stake?
The Education Department, which had 4,100 employees when Trump took office, has now shrunk by 50%, following:
- Voluntary buyouts
- Terminations of probationary employees
- 1,300 layoffs announced this week
The lawsuit warns that the cuts could prevent the department from distributing federal funds to public schools, managing college student loans, and enforcing anti-discrimination laws in education.
Trump’s Push to Eliminate the Education Department
Trump has long targeted the Education Department, calling it:
- “Wasteful”
- “Too influenced by liberal ideology”
- “Unnecessary government bureaucracy”
His administration argues that education should be controlled at the state and local levels, not by the federal government.
However, critics say his actions amount to a backdoor attempt to eliminate the department without Congressional approval.
States Fight Back
The lawsuit asserts that only Congress has the power to dismantle the Education Department.
New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned the cuts, calling them “reckless and illegal.”
“This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education must be stopped,” James said in a statement.
What’s Next?
The federal court in Massachusetts will review the case, and legal experts say it could lead to an injunction halting further layoffs.
If successful, the lawsuit may force the Trump administration to restore some education jobs—but with Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency continuing its push for mass layoffs, the battle is far from over.
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