A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education and halt a sweeping staff reduction that had already laid off half its workforce.
The ruling by District Judge Myong Joun comes in response to a lawsuit filed by two Massachusetts school districts, the American Federation of Teachers, and other groups. Joun said the layoffs caused “irreparable harm,” disrupted student aid programs, and jeopardized the FAFSA system.
The decision orders the reinstatement of fired employees and stalls Trump’s broader plan to shut down the department.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon vowed to follow legal procedures and called the ruling a setback. Deputy Assistant Secretary Madi Biedermann slammed the judge as biased and vowed an emergency appeal.
