WASHINGTON – Two separate coalitions of advocacy groups and labor groups each filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday. US Department of Education.
Submitted by the National Education Association, NAACP, American State Federation, County and City Employees Maryland Council 3 and public school parents Litigation The US District Court for the Maryland District will “quickly halt” the administration’s attempts to shut down government agencies.
Meanwhile, two school districts in the United States Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts Branch, AFSCME Council 93, the American Association of University Professors, the United Nations of Service Employees, and Massachusetts sued the government In the US District Court, in the Massachusetts District District, in the District Court over recent major layoffs in executive orders and departments.
The NEA complaint argues that “if they are allowed to endure,” the Trump administration’s actions will “irreparably harm” the group, “their members and PK-12, and postsecondary education across the United States.”
The union notes that the administration “takes dramatic and escalating measures to neutralize the sector, including $1.5 billion grants and cancellations of contracts, including contracts for a massive layoff of half its workforce.”
The complaint adds that “these actions are unconstitutional and violate the directions of Congress to create departments and allocate specific duties and budgets.”
The AFT complaint states, “The mass removal of individuals doing departmental work means that the department cannot fulfill its legally mandated obligations, including effectively distributing funds for students with disabilities and providing support and technical assistance to parents, families and the state.
The rear section includes the executive order and department’s “Final mission“Including massive layoffs,” “It’s illegal and harming millions of students, school districts and educators nationwide.”
Trump’s actions
Last week, President Donald Trump directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to promote the closure of the legal department.
Congress onlyhas the power to establish a 45-year-old division and abolish it.
the next day, Trump announced Some of the department’s primary responsibilities, including handling of large student loan portfolios and special education services, are to be housed in the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services, respectively.
The president also said that HHS will handle “nutrition programs,” but he said it is unclear what the Department of Agriculture manages school lunches and other major nutrition programs.
Nea slams the “Gutting” of the department
Monday statementNEA President Becky Pringle said, “By obstructing the Department of Education, we will hurt all students by surge in class size, reducing vocational training programs, out-of-reach of higher education, taking away special education services for students with disabilities and hindering civil rights protections for students.”
“Parents, educators and community leaders know that this broadens the education gap, and that’s why we do everything in our power to protect our students and their future,” Pringle said.
Before the executive order, the agency had already seen major changes in the weeks since Trump took office, including massive layoffs, contract cuts, staff acquisitions and major policy changes.
The department also announced it earlier this month. Over 1,300 employees Cut through the “power reduction” process, questioning how these massive layoffs affect the agency’s ability to carry out their primary responsibility.
Cut has filed a lawsuit from the Union 21 Democratic Attorney General – People whose departments are trying to block “power reduction” actions and implementation of Trump’s “order to dismantle the Department of Education.”
White House, Ed’s reaction
“The NEA and the NAACP have done nothing to advance the educational outcomes of American students. The latest NAEP scores prove that,” Harrison Fields, assistant reporter secretary to the White House principal, said in a statement shared with the state newsroom.
Latest data from National Assessment of Educational Progress I found it Average Math and Reading Score In 2024, students in fourth and eighth grades were lower in 2019 than before the coronavirus pandemic.
“Instead of politics in unfounded lawsuits, these groups need to abandon the courts and work with the Trump administration and the state on improving classrooms,” Fields said.
“As President Trump and Secretary McMahon have made clear, the Department of Education’s sunsets will be in collaboration with Congressional and national and state leaders, where all statutory necessary programs are managed responsibly and in a place that is best managed for students and families.”
“The U.S. Department of Education continues to offer all programs that fall within the agency’s scope, including being vigilant against the federal civil rights laws of schools and ensuring students with special needs and disabilities have access to critical resources,” added Biederman.
Last updated at 10:36am, March 25, 2025
