New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today won a court order stopping the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
On March 13, Attorney General Platkin joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the administration after it announced plans to eliminate 50 percent of the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce. Following a March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of ED and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that, in addition to implementing layoffs, the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, Attorney General Platkin and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services.
Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the coalition’s request for a preliminary injunction, halting the administration’s dismantling of the Department and ordering all employees who were fired as part of the layoffs to be reinstated.
“President Trump’s attempt to unilaterally dismantle the U.S. Department of Education is unconstitutional and illegal, and we are pleased that the court agreed with us today and blocked these unlawful actions,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The Trump Administration’s reckless attempts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education would gut services for special needs students, hurt low-income families in our state, and harm those seeking higher education. Thanks to today’s decision, children in New Jersey and across the country will continue to receive the critical services and funding provided by the Department. This fight is not yet over—but we will never relent in standing up for our teachers, students, and schools.”
Attorney General Platkin and the coalition argued in their lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction that the Trump Administration’s attacks on ED are illegal and unconstitutional. ED is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle it without an act of Congress. In addition, Attorney General Platkin and the coalition argue that dismantling the U.S. Department of Education violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
Joining Attorney General Platkin in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
