Supreme Court Backs Trump Administration in Education Department Layoffs, Paving Way for Major Restructuring

The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s administration to proceed with a sweeping reduction in force at the Department of Education, marking a significant milestone in the President’s campaign to dismantle federal bureaucracy and return education authority to the states.

The high court’s unsigned decision, issued Monday, pauses a lower court’s injunction that had blocked layoffs of nearly 1,400 Education Department employees. The ruling enables the administration to move forward with one of Trump’s boldest education reforms to date, despite fierce legal opposition and warnings of agency dysfunction.

McMahon: “A significant win for students and families”

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised the ruling on X, stating that the President holds constitutional authority to direct the operations of federal agencies:

In a full statement released by the Department of Education, McMahon pledged to carry out the layoffs and continue returning authority to the states while maintaining all statutory duties.

Bondi: “Another Supreme Court victory”

Attorney General Pam Bondi also took to X to celebrate the ruling, calling it a triumph for the Justice Department:

Bondi added that the administration would “continue fighting and winning” to protect the President’s agenda.

Dissent: “Lawlessness, not leadership”

The 6-3 decision was met with strong criticism from the Court’s liberal justices. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for herself and Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan, accused the Court of enabling an “intent to break the law” by the Executive Branch.

Background: Legal battle over layoffs

The Supreme Court decision overturns a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston. The judge found that the layoffs would likely cripple the Education Department, particularly in its mandated functions such as financial aid distribution, special education support, and civil rights enforcement.

The lawsuit was brought by two Massachusetts school districts (Somerville and Easthampton), the American Federation of Teachers, and 21 Democratic attorneys general, arguing the cuts amounted to an illegal closure of the department without congressional approval.

Judge Joun’s order had delayed the full termination of affected employees, who had been on paid leave since March. Without the injunction, their employment would have ended in early June.

What’s next?

Now empowered by the high court’s decision, the Department of Education is expected to finalize the reduction in force and continue implementation of Trump’s Executive Order to decentralize federal education oversight.

Officials have not released a detailed timeline, but an internal department email previously asked laid-off employees to share whether they had found other employment, suggesting the agency had been preparing for this legal victory.