In a definitive strike against the Trump administration's recent policy maneuvers, Attorney General Mayes secured a substantial win with a court order that halts the proposed dismantling of the Department of Education (ED). The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, follows a potent challenge from Mayes and a coalition of attorneys general from across the nation, a move that was in direct response to President Trump's intent to slash ED staffing by half and reassign critical services like student loan management and special education.
The legal skirmish tipped in favor of Mayes after the Trump administration rolled out a March 20 Executive Order to close ED which was compounded by a subsequent announcement pushing for the "immediate" reshuffling of services, despite the administration lacking congressional approval to do so, Attorney General Mayes has been cited by official statements standing firm on the point that the President must abide by the law.
This recent court order isn't just a temporary roadblock for the administration; it signifies a complete reversal of the layoffs already in motion, mandating the reinstatement of all employees let go as part of the Administration's strategy. The coalition's lawsuit, which included legal experts from states as varied as California to New York, argued that attempts to dismantle an executive agency like ED require legislative action, and any shortcuts taken around this are, by nature, unconstitutional.
The efforts of Attorney General Mayes and his legal compatriots reflect a broader saga of judicial resistance to executive overreach with the coalition asserting that the Administration's attacks on the ED not only violate the Administrative Procedures Act but also infringe on the balance of power that is foundational to the nation's governance according to the lawsuit's specifics shared by the statements from the Arizona Attorney General's office.
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