Federal Judge Halts Trump-Era Plan to Shut Down Education Department, Orders Reinstatement of Fired Employees

A federal judge has issued a major blow to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, halting a controversial executive order and requiring the reinstatement of over 1,000 employees who were let go in mass layoffs earlier this year.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston granted a preliminary injunction to stop two plans initiated by the Trump administration in March. The actions were part of a broader agenda to shutter the federal education agency — a key campaign promise of the former Republican president.

Lawsuits Challenge Legality of Department’s Closure

Two consolidated lawsuits were at the heart of the case. The first was filed by Massachusetts school districts (Somerville and Easthampton) in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers and several other education advocacy groups. The second came from a coalition of 21 Democratic attorneys general.

Plaintiffs argued that the abrupt layoffs left the Department unable to perform legally mandated functions — including administering federal financial aid, supporting special education programs, and enforcing civil rights laws in schools.

Judge Joun: Layoffs Cause “Irreparable Harm”

In his ruling, Judge Joun sided with the plaintiffs, emphasizing the widespread damage caused by the cuts. “The plaintiffs presented a stark picture of the irreparable harm that will result,” he wrote, citing the loss of vital services, delays in federal funding, and barriers to educational access for students and educators alike.

He also rejected the administration’s claim that the move was a simple reorganization. “The idea that Defendants’ actions are merely a ‘reorganization’ is plainly not true,” Joun said. “Layoffs of this magnitude will likely cripple the Department.”

Over 1,300 Federal Employees to Be Reinstated

The court ordered the Department to reinstate all employees terminated under the March 11 layoff directive. The move had affected roughly 1,300 workers, with additional reductions through buyouts and terminations of probationary staff. At its lowest point, the department’s workforce had been cut nearly in half from its 2017 size of 4,100 employees.

Advocates Applaud the Ruling

Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represents plaintiffs in the Somerville case, called the decision a significant win.

“Today’s order means that the Trump administration’s disastrous mass firings of career civil servants are blocked while this wildly disruptive and unlawful agency action is litigated,” Perryman said in a statement.

Trump Administration Defends the Move as «Efficiency»

While critics argue the goal was to dismantle the department, the Trump administration maintains the layoffs were part of a push for greater efficiency, not an outright shutdown. The government acknowledged that only Congress has the authority to eliminate the department but insisted that temporary disruptions were necessary during the reorganization process.

The Department of Education has not yet responded to requests for comment.