A federal appeals court has denied the U.S. Department of Education’s request for a temporary stay on a preliminary injunction that halts the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the department and cut its workforce by half. Washington, D.C., and two states had previously sought to block the proposed Reduction in Force (RIF) and closure of the DOE, leading to multiple lawsuits. The court ruled that the department’s functions could not be effectively suspended by mass employee terminations, rejecting the administration’s appeal for a stay.
Following the announcement of the DOE’s closure on March 11, 2025, multiple entities, including the Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump, and other officials, were sued in the District of Massachusetts. Labor organizations and school districts joined the legal action, arguing that the RIF would prevent the department from carrying out its statutory duties. The district court initially placed a stay on the president’s actions, but the Trump administration appealed, requesting a temporary halt, which the appeals court denied.
The case has drawn significant attention, with Republican senators introducing the “Returning Education to Our States Act” in April. The bill would redirect parts of the DOE’s functions to other federal agencies and allow schools greater autonomy in setting educational standards. The legislation reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape the U.S. education system, emphasizing state and local control over education policies.