Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, alongside a coalition of 21 attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education, and President Trump. The lawsuit, submitted to the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, challenges the administration's plan to significantly reduce the Department’s workforce and programs.
The Department of Education is responsible for serving over 50 million K-12 students nationwide and allocates more than 25% of its budget to state and local governments. In Massachusetts alone, nearly $2 billion in federal funds support various educational needs annually.
AG Campbell stated, “By attempting to dismantle the Department of Education which, among many things, funds educational programs that benefit low-income children and students with disabilities and enforces laws that prohibit discrimination in education, the Trump Administration is making it crystal clear that it does not prioritize our students, teachers or families.” She emphasized her commitment to holding the administration accountable as both an attorney general and a parent.
On March 11, Secretary McMahon announced plans to cut nearly half of the Department's workforce as part of what she termed its "final mission"—to dismantle the Department. This reduction would displace almost 2,000 employees.
The coalition argues that only Congress has the authority to establish or abolish administrative offices per a Supreme Court ruling from nearly a century ago. They contend that reducing staff will hinder statutory responsibilities such as supporting elementary through postsecondary education programs.
Concerns have been raised about how these cuts could impact special needs resources in K-12 education and complicate financial aid processes in higher education. Additionally, reductions within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) threaten efforts to ensure equal access to public education free from discrimination.
AG Campbell co-led this legal action with attorneys general from New York, Hawaii, and California. Joining them are representatives from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington Wisconsin.