Attorney General Kwame Raoul, aligning with a coalition of attorneys general from 20 other states and regions, filed for a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's plan to significantly reduce the workforce of the Department of Education. According to a statement from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, the lawsuit came as an immediate response to an announcement and executive order issued on March 20 and 21, respectively, which would not just lay off employees but also redistribute the management of student loans and special education services outside the department. In an action that allegedly scrambles to protect the enrollment of Illinois' students facing imminent deadlines, Raoul described the administration's move as "unlawful, unconstitutional and severely harm students."
Voicing the concerns of the coalition, Raoul's office highlighted the already tangible effects of the department's dismantling, with the Office of Civil Rights locations shut down nationwide and critical state education funding being stalled. Students who rely on programs for disability services, vocational training, and protection from discrimination are among those who stand to experience significant disruption. Despite the Office of Civil Rights handling crucial responsibilities, as it turns out, they were among the first to see their doors close following the mass layoffs. Raoul argues that the reliance of states on federal funding calls for an immediate halt to the administration's actions through the court's intervention.
The coalition's lawsuit, as they maintain, is founded on the premise that the executive branch does not have the unilateral authority to dismantle an executive agency established and funded by congressional acts without Congress itself amending or repealing the pertinent legislation. Referring to this legal standpoint, Raoul claimed the administration's approach disregards established laws and obligations. Moreover, the lawsuit cites violations of the Administrative Procedures Act due to the nature of the mass layoffs. States like Arizona, California, and New York join Illinois in its legal pursuit as outlined in the court filings.
