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A federal judge in Massachusetts issued a sweeping injunction Thursday, blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and ordering that all employees fired since January 20 be reinstated.
The decision from U.S. District Judge Myong Joun is a major legal setback for President Donald Trump, who had pledged during his 2024 campaign to eliminate the department. The judge found the administration acted without congressional approval, violating federal law and endangering vital services for students nationwide.
“The record abundantly reveals that Defendants’ true intention is to effectively dismantle the Department without an authorizing statute,” Joun wrote in his 68-page opinion.
Key Rulings from the Judge:
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The Department cannot be shut down without an act of Congress
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Trump’s March 21 executive order is blocked
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Employees fired after January 20 must be reinstated
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Plans to move student loan and special education responsibilities out of the Department are frozen
Judge Joun sharply criticized the administration’s claims that the firings and reorganization were about “efficiency,” noting “there is no evidence the RIF [reduction in force] improved operations” and that internal documents and court filings contradict the public rationale.
Background: Trump’s Plan to Abolish the Department
Trump’s March 21 executive order instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin shuttering the agency and transferring key responsibilities, such as federal student loans and special education, to other federal bodies.
During her Senate confirmation, McMahon assured lawmakers that any closure would require congressional authorization, stating: “We’d like to do this right.”
Yet, Judge Joun noted that “no evidence exists” that the administration was working with Congress, and instead had taken unilateral steps to begin the Department’s dismantling.
“Irreparable Harm” to Students and Schools
The judge sided with plaintiffs including former Education Department staff, school leaders, and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), who warned that the mass firings and uncertainty have disrupted critical services.
“The Department was already struggling to meet its goals,” Joun wrote. “It is only reasonable to expect that an RIF of this magnitude will likely cripple the Department.”
“A stark picture of the irreparable harm” was drawn, he added, especially for vulnerable student populations dependent on federal guidance and funding.
Immediate Fallout and Appeal Plans
Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann condemned the ruling, saying the administration will challenge it on an emergency basis.
“Once again, a far-left Judge has dramatically overstepped his authority,” Biedermann said. “President Trump and the Senate-confirmed Secretary of Education clearly have the authority to make decisions about agency reorganization.”
Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT, praised the ruling as a necessary defense of public education.
“This decision is a first step to reverse this war on knowledge and the undermining of broad-based opportunity,” she said.
What’s Next?
The ruling sets up a high-stakes legal showdown that could reach the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the Education Department must halt all dismantling efforts, reinstate laid-off staff, and return to its previous operational structure.
The case is likely to ignite further political clashes over the federal role in education — one of the most ideologically charged debates of the Trump presidency.
