A federal judge in Massachusetts has halted former President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, ruling that his administration’s drastic restructuring plans were unlawful.
Judge Myong Joun, appointed by President Joe Biden, issued a preliminary injunction preventing the administration from laying off nearly half of the department’s 4,000 employees and transferring federal student loan management to the Small Business Administration.
Trump, who has long criticized the Education Department, claims that despite heavy federal spending, student performance remains poor. He cited low reading and math scores among elementary and secondary students, stating the department “is doing us no good” and vowing to return educational control to the states.
In March, Trump signed an executive order initiating the process of dismantling the department. Plans reportedly included major staff cuts and a reorganization of federal education responsibilities.
The judge’s ruling marks the first major legal setback for Trump’s education overhaul, which critics argue requires Congressional approval before any federal agency can be significantly altered or dissolved.
