A lawsuit filed on March 13 argues that the Trump administration's plan to reduce the Department of Education's staff by 50% would lead to a "total shutdown" of the department. The legal action is supported by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and 20 other attorneys general, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated, "Let's not pretend this is about making government more efficient. It is not. It is destruction," regarding the Trump administration's plan to reduce the Department of Education. The department supports over 18,200 school districts and more than 50 million K-12 students, including those in 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private schools. It also serves over 12 million postsecondary students. Special education funds from the department cover resources like assistive technology, teacher salaries, transportation, and therapeutic services. The lawsuit claims that the changes could make it harder for rural districts to access grants, as reported by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office stated that reducing the Department of Education's workforce would affect its ability to support students with special needs, process financial aid, and manage the Office of Civil Rights. Arizona Attorney General Mayes, along with attorneys general from 20 other states, filed a lawsuit arguing that the administration's attempt to dismantle the department is unconstitutional without Congressional approval. The coalition seeks to maintain the department's role in providing educational services, as stated by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
