Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Move to Dismantle Education Department
A federal judge just hit the brakes on Donald Trump’s controversial attempt to erase the U.S. Department of Education. In a bold and much-needed move, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun stepped in on Thursday and blocked Trump’s executive order, which had already caused mass layoffs and chaos within the department.
Joe Biden Says He Would’ve Beat Donald Trump In 2024 Election
This all comes after Trump rolled out a two-part plan in March to shut the department down — a goal he’s been bragging about since his first campaign. But public schools in Somerville and Easthampton, along with the American Federation of Teachers and other advocacy groups, weren’t having it. They filed suit, claiming the order was an illegal backdoor attempt to gut a department that handles everything from student loans to protecting civil rights in classrooms.
And Judge Joun agreed. He said the plaintiffs showed clear and present danger — especially for low-income and disabled students — from the chaos Trump’s plan caused. “The plaintiffs painted a stark picture of the irreparable harm that will result from financial uncertainty and delay, impeded access to vital knowledge on which students and educators rely, and loss of essential services for America’s most vulnerable student populations,” the judge ruled.
He made it clear: the Department of Education is a lifeline — and cutting off that lifeline would “likely cripple the Department.”
Trump’s Executive Order Backfires as Court Orders Rehiring of Laid-Off Employees
Judge Joun didn’t just stop Trump’s plan. He also ordered the Department of Education to reinstate the federal workers who were laid off as part of the March 11 reorganization. That’s right — the government now has to bring those employees back and resume operations like it never tried to shut down.
The administration had claimed the layoffs were part of a restructuring for “efficiency,” not an actual shutdown. But let’s be real — the effects felt like a department under attack. Key services were delayed, students were left in limbo, and teachers felt abandoned.
The court wasn’t buying the spin.
And it wasn’t just about the workers losing jobs. This move jeopardized essential functions like processing federal student aid, enforcing civil rights protections, and supporting special education programs. The lawsuit warned that these layoffs risked putting entire school systems on pause — and Judge Joun echoed that sentiment loud and clear.
