New York Attorney General Letitia James, backed by a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general, has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration's latest move to "shut down" the Department of Education (ED) by proposing the firing of half its workforce. According to the press release issued by James's office yesterday, the drastic action aims to protect the provision of a quality education and the essential resources relied upon by tens of millions of students nationwide.
The complaint stems from a measure announced March 11 that would seemingly cripple the ED and its ability to serve the nearly 18,200 school districts across America, additionally impairing the support for K-12 and postsecondary education, including financial aid and civil rights protections; all of which, the coalition argues, helps ensure equal opportunities for learners of all backgrounds. James is quoted saying, “Firing half of the Department of Education’s workforce will hurt students throughout New York and the nation, especially low-income students and those with disabilities who rely on federal funding. This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education is reckless and illegal. Today I am taking action to stop the madness and protect our schools and the students who depend on them,” as obtained by the Attorney General's Office.
Asserting that the Trump administration lacks the legal grounds to obstruct an executive agency greenlit by Congress without legislative approval, James and her fellow attorneys general are seeking a court order that would stop the obliteration of ED programs and personnel, this lawsuit, backed by attorneys from coast to coast, represents a united front in the fight to prevent what they believe is a detrimental and possibly illegal dismantlement of an agency critical to educational equity and accessibility.
