California Attorney General Rob Bonta has spearheaded a multistate coalition seeking a court order to halt the Trump Administration's mass firing of U.S. Department of Education employees and the transfer of its core functions to other departments. This move, according to Bonta, threatens the department's ability to fulfill its statutory duties, which include direct funding for K-12 education, student aid, services for students with disabilities, civil rights enforcement, and vocational training.
"California receives billions of dollars each year from the U.S. Department of Education," stated Attorney General Bonta. "The programs and initiatives these funds support help ensure all our children have access to a high-quality public education and are able to learn in a safe, healthy environment."
The recent actions by the Trump Administration have already impacted California schools that receive $7.9 billion annually from the department. The coalition argues that these actions violate the Administrative Procedures Act and are unconstitutional.
On March 11, nearly 50% of Department employees were terminated as part of what is described as the Trump Administration’s “final mission” to dismantle the department. President Trump's directive for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the department is cited as evidence that these firings are part of a broader effort undermining its essential functions.
These changes have resulted in significant disruptions, including closing seven regional offices of the Office for Civil Rights and leaving 1,500 pending cases unresolved.
Bonta has filed this lawsuit alongside attorneys general from Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey Oregon Rhode Island Washington Wisconsin Vermont and D.C., seeking an injunction while litigation continues.