New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction as part of their lawsuit to prevent the Department of Education’s (ED) demolition. On March 13, Attorney General James and the coalition filed their complaint after the Trump administration announced plans to cut half of the Department’s employment.
Following President Trump’s March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of ED and his March 21 announcement that, in addition to layoffs, the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order to halt the mass layoffs and service transfers.
“The Trump administration’s illegal cuts to the Department of Education are an attack on our educators, our schools, and our students,” said James, the attorney general.
“We sued to prevent Trump from dismantling the Department of Education, and we are now seeking a court order to protect students and their families.” As a proud graduate of New York’s public schools, I will continue to protect our schools and everyone who rely on them.”
Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the Trump administration’s attacks on education have already had major implications for families and students across the country.
Mass layoffs of ED employees have resulted in the closing of the Department’s Office of Civil Rights facilities across the country, including New York. Critical funding for state educational systems has also been postponed.
Federal payments totaling $363 million for the New York State Education Department have been delayed owing to layoffs and other adjustments implemented by the Trump administration.
According to Attorney General James and the coalition, states rely on billions of dollars in annual financing for elementary and secondary education, assistance for disabled children, vocational education, adult education, and other critical services.
All of these activities will be significantly hampered if the administration’s incapacitation of the Department is not reversed.
Attorney General James and the coalition contend in their complaint and application for a preliminary injunction that the Trump administration’s attacks on ED are illegal and unconstitutional. The Department is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with multiple statutes establishing its various programs and funding streams.
According to the coalition’s lawsuit, the executive branch lacks the legal ability to demolish it unilaterally unless Congress acts. In addition, Attorney General James and the coalition claim that ED’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.
Attorney General James was joined in filing the lawsuit and today’s motion by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
This is the most recent action Attorney General James has taken to defend New Yorkers and the services they rely on from the Trump administration’s unconstitutional attacks.
On March 6, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general sued the Trump administration for unconstitutional mass firings of federal employees, as well as for slashing vital teacher funding programs administered by the Department of Education.
On March 6, Attorney General James joined a group of attorneys general in obtaining a court injunction that blocked the Trump administration’s hold on crucial federal money for states. On March 5, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general obtained a court injunction preventing the Trump administration from withholding critical funds for the National Institutes of Health.
On February 24, Attorney General James joined a coalition of attorneys general in obtaining a court order prohibiting Elon Musk and members of DOGE from accessing Americans’ private information through the US Treasury.
