A federal judge in Massachusetts has put a stop to President Trump’s plan to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. On Thursday, Judge Myong J. Joun issued a preliminary injunction, preventing Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon from moving forward with an executive order aimed at closing the department.
The ruling comes after the administration announced plans to lay off about 1,300 employees as part of a major overhaul. The judge ordered the reinstatement of these workers and directed the department to return to its previous state. Judge Joun emphasized that a government department needs enough staff to fulfill its responsibilities, stating, “A department without enough employees to perform statutorily mandated functions is not a department at all.”
The judge’s decision also blocks Trump from transferring the management of federal student loans and special education programs to other agencies, a move he suggested during a speech in the Oval Office. The administration argued that the layoffs were meant to streamline operations and improve efficiency. However, Judge Joun found no evidence to support this claim, noting that the department was actually becoming less effective.
When Trump took office, the Department of Education had over 4,100 employees. The recent layoffs, combined with additional resignations and retirements, reduced the workforce by nearly half, leaving about 2,180 staff members. Critics, including the American Federation of Teachers and several states, argued that the department could not properly manage federal student loans or ensure compliance with funding requirements under such staffing levels.
AFT President Randi Weingarten praised the ruling, calling it a step towards reversing what she described as an attack on education and opportunity. Meanwhile, the department’s spokesperson, Madi Biedermann, criticized the judge’s decision, claiming it overstepped judicial authority and hindered efforts to make the department more efficient.
The case consolidates two lawsuits filed in March by 20 states and the District of Columbia, along with various unions and school districts. The administration plans to challenge the injunction immediately. This legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration’s education policies and those advocating for the preservation of public education services.