Lawsuit argues ‘Department of Education is essential’
Democratic-led states have sued the Trump administration over its effort to dissolve the Education Department by laying off nearly half its staff, arguing it does not have the authority to do so and needs congressional approval.
Democratic attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia filed the federal lawsuit late last week, arguing the “Department of Education is essential.”
The lawsuit was filed two days after the U.S Department of Education announced it is laying off nearly half of its staff, a move that furthered President Donald Trump’s platform to disband the federal agency.
The layoffs take the department’s workforce from 4,133 to 2,183 workers. The lawsuit argues that move essentially decapitated the department, making it ineffective. The complaint alleges such a large move requires approval from Congress.
“This massive reduction in force (RIF) is equivalent to incapacitating key, statutorily-mandated functions of the Department, causing immense damage to Plaintiff States and their educational systems,” according to the lawsuit.
Those states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Those states argue students who rely on federal aid are in particular danger because there are not enough employees to handle student loans, student aid and other programs that help get young people through the school-house doors.
“Although the Department’s March 11 Press Release says that the Department ‘will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview,’ … that assertion is easily belied by the extent and effect of the RIF,” the suit states.
“So too is the assertion from Secretary McMahon, later on March 11, that the terminations were the ‘first step’ on the road to a ‘total shutdown’ of the Department.”
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington, D.C.; YouTube screenshot
MORE: U.S. Department of Education lays off nearly 50 percent of its staff
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