Decision prevents the dismissal of more than 1,300 employees and orders reintegration of those already disconnected
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the US Department of Education. The decision was issued on Thursday (22.MAI.2025) in Boston by Judge Myong J. Joun, who prevented the mass dismissal of more than 1,300 employees and ordered the reintegration of workers already disconnected.
The department, which supervises $ 1.6 trillion in university loans and applies civil rights laws in schools, said the cuts, once implemented, would leave it with only 2,183 employees.
Joun suspended the implementation of the Order of Trump of 20 March, which would transfer student loan programs and special needs to other federal agencies. The lawsuit was filed by Democratic States, School Districts and Teacher Unions.
“The registration abundantly reveals that the true intention of the defendants is effectively dismantling the department without an authorizing status”declared the judge in his decision. He added that “Massive reduction of personnel has effectively impossible for the department to fulfill their functions determined by law”.
The layoffs were announced by the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, on March 11, described as a “force reductiona “and starts from”final missionOf the department. The measure took place a week before Trump signed an executive order requesting the closing of the agency.
The spokeswoman of the Department of Education, Madi Biedermann, criticized the verdict in a statement, saying that he came from “A judge not elected with a political ax to sharpen”.
The lawsuit was filed by democratic attorneys from 20 states and the district of Columbia. They argued that the courts made the department unable to fulfill their legal obligations. The Trump administration said it will contest the decision.
