A broad coalition of civil rights and education advocacy groups is taking the Trump administration to court over what they call an illegal and dangerous effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—a move they argue would devastate students, families, and schools across the country.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court, challenges the administration’s recent actions to shutter the department, which was established by Congress in 1979. Plaintiffs include the NAACP, the National Education Association (NEA), AFSCME Maryland Council 3, public school parents, and are represented by Student Defense and the Education Law Center (ELC).
READ: Trump Job Approval At 52% In Latest Poll, Strong Approval And Disapproval Evenly Split
“By firing half of the workforce at the Department of Education, Trump is not only seeking to dismantle an agency — he is deliberately destroying the pathway many Americans have to a better life,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.
At the center of the legal fight is a March 20 executive order signed by President Donald Trump, directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take “all necessary steps” to close the department and return authority over education to the states. The following day, the administration began plans to transfer student loans to the Small Business Administration and disability programs to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The lawsuit argues that the administration’s actions violate the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act, asserting that only Congress has the authority to eliminate or restructure federal agencies created by law.
READ: AG Pam Bondi Vows Justice: “Domestic Terrorism” Against Tesla Sparks Federal Crackdown
“Congress created the Department of Education, and Congress controls its future — not billionaires Marylanders never voted for,” said Patrick Moran, President of AFSCME Council 3.
The suit comes just weeks after the Department implemented a sweeping reduction in force on March 11 that, combined with earlier cuts, slashed the department’s workforce by half. The administration has also terminated $1.5 billion in active contracts and grants for federally authorized education programs.
Education and civil rights leaders warn the dismantling effort would cause widespread harm, particularly to the most vulnerable student populations, including:
- 7.5 million students with disabilities
- Low-income students
- English learners
- Rural and homeless students
“Nothing is more important than the success of students,” said Becky Pringle, NEA President. “We won’t be silent as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Linda McMahon try to steal opportunities from our students and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
The complaint also warns of a cascade of consequences if the Department is eliminated, including:
- Loss of federal oversight on civil rights in schools
- Job losses for more than 400,000 educators and support staff
- Disruption of Pell Grants and student loan repayment systems
- Weakened enforcement against predatory and fraudulent colleges
Mara Greengrass, a Maryland parent whose child has a disability, is a named plaintiff in the suit.
“Funding for special education and the Department’s oversight have been crucial in ensuring my son receives the quality education he—and every child—deserves,” she said.
Robert Kim, Executive Director of the Education Law Center, said the administration’s claim that education support can continue without the department reflects a “dangerous misunderstanding” of its role.
“We cannot afford to let the Trump administration throw our public schools into chaos,” Kim said.
Aaron Ament, president of Student Defense and a former Department of Education official, called the move “a brazen violation of the law.”
READ: Border Czar Tom Homan Swats Down Worries About ‘Due Process’ For Deported Gang Members
“Donald Trump’s own Secretary of Education has acknowledged they can’t legally shut down the Department of Education without Congress,” Ament said. “Yet that is, for all intents and purposes, exactly what they are doing.”
The lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to block the administration from further dismantling the department and requests the court reaffirm that any such action must come through Congress, not executive order.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
