Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has taken a significant legal step in response to the Trump Administration's plan to reduce and ultimately close the Department of Education. On March 24, a coalition of 21 attorneys general, co-led by Campbell, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. This legal action seeks to halt the administration's attempts to cut the Department's workforce in half and transfer out key services such as student loan management and special education.
AG Campbell emphasized the impact of these actions, stating, "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 further expressed her commitment to opposing these actions, noting, "Neither President Trump nor his Secretary have the power to demolish a congressionally-created department, and as Attorney General but most importantly as a mom, I will continue to push back on these and other unlawful actions that harm our residents and economy."
The lawsuit initially filed on March 13 followed the Trump Administration's executive order aimed at Department closure and the subsequent directive for an immediate transfer of services. The coalition argues these moves have already caused significant harm, including the shutdown of the Office of Civil Rights locations nationwide and delays in funding vital educational programs.
The impending disruption of federal funding is of special concern to the attorneys general. They emphasize the necessity of these funds for various educational services including those for children with disabilities. The coalition maintains that the Trump Administration's actions are illegal, citing the Department's establishment as a congressional mandate and the Executive branch's lack of authority to dismantle it without congressional approval.
In addition to the broader legal implications, the coalition argues the mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act, further grounding their case in statutory noncompliance. The attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia have joined AG Campbell in this legal battle.