In a move that's sparking significant legal pushback, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration. The legal action, which targets U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education, and President Trump, aims to prevent their purported efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, with the coalition seeking a court order to halt the administration's policies that would slash the department's workforce and programs.
Targeting over 50 million K-12 students nationwide, the Department of Education is responsible for directing a substantial chunk of its budget, more than 25%, to state and local governments. Specifically for Massachusetts – reported by MASS.gov – close to $2 billion flow in from federal support annually, sustaining everything from special education to teacher payroll. Having funds like social workers and various specialist programs evaporate alongside the proposed workforce cuts, which were announced on March 11, would leave nearly 2,000 employees jobless.
"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," AG Campbell stated, as MASS.gov reflects. Campbell also asserted that neither President Trump nor Secretary McMahon have the authority to "demolish a congressionally-created department," committing to hold the administration accountable for any detrimental actions.
The coalition, which includes attorneys general from states across the country from New York to Hawaii, and even California, is arguing against the reduction that the Department's workforce will no longer be able to carry out its mandated statutory functions if depleted. Drastic slashes targeted specifically at the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) would jeopardize equal access to public education and leave students vulnerable to discrimination and sexual assault, especially after the OCR's Boston office closure following the workforce reduction. The OCR's vital role had been amplified as it reviewed its highest volume of complaints just last fiscal year, 2024.
With the Department Education under threat, the coalition maintains that the actions of the Trump administration exceed their legal bounds, citing a near-century-old Supreme Court decision that underscores Congressional power as the sole body capable of establishing or abolishing administrative offices and defining their purposes. The lawsuit also focuses on the predicted fallout within K-12 and higher education, arguing the dismantling would strip students, particularly those with special needs, of crucial support and resources, fostering chaos and uncertainty among educators and students alike, as told by MASS.gov. The potential impact on financial aid processes is another concern, as it might make federal loans, Pell grants, and work-study programs harder to access for college and university learners.
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