Summarized from Time Magazine: http://bit.ly/4lLTevu
The Trump administration can push forward with its plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education after the Supreme Court on Monday lifted a lower court ruling that had paused mass layoffs and temporarily halted President Trump’s executive order calling for the agency’s closure.
In an unsigned order, the Court allowed the administration to resume laying off nearly 1,400 employees, reinstating its March directive aimed at returning education responsibilities to the states.
“The United States Supreme Court has handed a Major Victory to Parents and Students across the Country,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, praising the decision and declaring that the process to “return the functions of the Department of Education back to the States” could now begin.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, who previously called her “final mission” the elimination of the department, referred to the ruling as a “significant win.” She argued the decision confirms the president’s authority over federal staffing and agency operations. Layoffs that had been on hold are now set to resume, with many employees expected to be terminated by August 1.
While a full dissolution of the Department of Education–created by Congress in 1979–would require a legislative act and likely a supermajority in the Senate, McMahon confirmed the administration will continue transferring functions to other federal agencies, such as HHS, DOJ, and Treasury.
Supporters of the agency, education equity advocates, and civil rights leaders have expressed deep concern over the Supreme Court’s decision, warning of far-reaching consequences for students, families, and educators across the nation.
Potential Consequences of Dismantling the DOE
1. Loss of Support for Low-Income Students
The department administers Title I, an $18 billion program that supports schools serving low-income students. Dismantling could convert these funds into block grants, risking state-level diversion.
Impact: Up to 2.8 million students affected; 180,000 educator jobs at risk.
According to Judith Browne Dianis (Advancement Project), eliminating Title I would “exacerbate the gap between the haves and have-nots.”
2. Risk to Services for Students with Disabilities
The department oversees IDEA, providing $15 billion in grants for special education serving 7.5 million students.
Trump has proposed transferring IDEA programs to HHS, which advocates argue lacks educational expertise.
The Arc warned this would revert progress on inclusion:
“Students with disabilities don’t belong in a medical model… they belong in classrooms.”
3. Disruption of the Student Loan System
The Department currently manages $1.6 trillion in student loans for 43 million Americans through Federal Student Aid and the FAFSA system.
Trump’s plan moves loan administration to the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Experts call this “a recipe for chaos,” citing SBA’s lack of capacity to manage educational finance programs.
4. Erosion of Civil Rights Enforcement
The Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigates discrimination in schools based on race, gender, disability, and more.
McMahon has closed 7 of 12 regional OCR offices and dismissed thousands of complaints.
LGBTQ+ students, students of color, and those with disabilities are expected to be hardest hit.
Gaylynn Burroughs, National Women’s Law Center: “Without enough staff and resources, students will face more barriers to educational opportunity… The damage will be felt for generations.”