In a decisive pushback against the Trump administration's current agenda, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has taken a stand to protect the integrity and existence of the Department of Education. Leading the charge with a team of 20 attorneys general, Campbell is spearheading a motion for a preliminary injunction. This action is a response to a series of moves by the administration, which includes plans to drastically reduce the workforce of the Department and an Executive Order demanding it's shutdown, as reported by the Massachusetts official news portal.
The lawsuit filed on March 13 shed light on the administration's intentions to cut half of the department's workforce. Subsequently, on March 20 and 21, President Trump issued directives that would not only close the department but also transfer essential services, such as student loan management and special education programs. AG Campbell did not mince words, stating on the Massachusetts website, "By attempting to dismantle the Department of Education which, among many things, funds educational programs that benefit low-income children and students with disabilities and enforces laws that prohibit discrimination in education, the Trump Administration is making it crystal clear that it does not prioritize our students, teachers or families." Campbell further emphasized the unlawfulness of these actions, asserting that neither President Trump nor his secretary has the authority to dismantle a congressionally created department.
These recent developments have already sparked turmoil, prompting closures of the Department's Office of Civil Rights locations, including the one in Boston, and triggering funding delays for state school systems. States, which depend on billions in federal funds, now face the threat of severe disruption in public education and related services. The attorneys general contend that such repercussions underscore the need for immediate legal intervention to prevent further damage, as well as the illegality of the administration's unilateral moves.
According to the original lawsuit and, the motion for a preliminary injunction, the coalition of attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration's efforts against the Department are not only illegal but also unconstitutional. The Department, established by executive agency authorized by Congress, operates under numerous laws that define its programs and funding provisions. The lawsuit points out that unilateral dismantlement without Congressional say-so is beyond the legal powers of the Executive branch, and additionally, the mass layoffs run afoul of the Administrative Procedures Act.
Numerous states have joined Massachusetts in this legal battle, from Arizona to Wisconsin, including the District of Columbia.
.jpg){kind=link}