Attorney General Kwame Raoul scored a judicial win this week, securing a court order that halts the Trump administration's attempt to significantly reduce the Department of Education's workforce. In a battle for the educational future of America's children, Raoul, alongside a coalition of 21 attorneys general, sued following the administration's March announcement of sweeping layoffs within the department.
"The Department of Education plays a crucial role in protecting K-12 education for all Americans," Raoul emphasized in a statement made by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Their actions to downsize were quickly met with concern, particularly for how they would impact students with disabilities and those from low-income families. Raoul pointed out that the administration's actions were "unlawful, unconstitutional and most severely harm students who have the most need for the department’s programs and services."
Illinois can now breathe a sigh of relief as the court's ruling safeguards nearly $800 million in Title I funding intended for lower-income schools. Additionally, the Department of Education will continue to support special education services for almost 280,000 Illinois students and vocational rehabilitation for students with disabilities. Such services include those at institutions like the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.
In a series of moves that initiated the lawsuit, President Trump issued an executive order on March 20 directing the closure of the Department of Education, followed by a March 21 announcement to commence layoffs and outsource student loan management and special education services, as per the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Subsequently, the injunction granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has now frozen the administration’s policies aimed at dismantling the department and has ordered the reinstatement of all employees let go due to the layoffs.
The coalition led by Raoul argued that the attempted dismantling of the department by the executive branch exceeded legal bounds, as Congress is the entity authorized to create executive agencies. Furthermore, they contended that the mass layoffs ran afoul of the Administrative Procedures Act, as stated by the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
