Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has achieved a significant legal victory against the Trump Administration’s attempt to reduce the Department of Education (DOE). On March 13, AG Ford, along with attorneys general from 20 other states, filed a lawsuit following the administration’s announcement to cut half of the DOE’s workforce. This action came after a March 20 executive order and President Trump’s statement on March 21 directing the closure of the DOE and the transfer of student loan management and special education services outside the department.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has now granted a preliminary injunction, halting these policies and ordering reinstatement for employees who were laid off as part of this plan. “This is more than a legal win; it’s a line in the sand,” said AG Ford. He emphasized that dismantling the DOE would be detrimental to future generations, stating, “Education is one of the most vital services our government can provide.”
The coalition argued that these actions by the Trump administration are illegal and unconstitutional, as Congress authorizes the DOE and its programs. They assert that any dismantling requires congressional approval and that mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.
The lawsuit includes participation from attorneys general in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont and Washington D.C.
