South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a multistate friend-of-the-court brief defending President Trump and Secretary Linda McMahon in New York v. McMahon. The case arises from a challenge by several Democrat-led states seeking to reinstate federal employees placed on administrative leave and stop upcoming reductions-in-force. The lawsuit seeks to block the administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the U.S. Department of Education, thereby returning power to the states.
The brief, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, argues that the Constitution vests authority over the federal workforce in the President under Article II, and that the states, not the courts, should lead on education policy.
“President Trump was elected to clean up bloated federal agencies and put power back where it belongs, with the states and the people,” said Attorney General Wilson. “This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to tie the hands of the President and preserve the failing status quo in education.”
The brief makes clear that managing executive branch employees is a core presidential power, and that Congress created a specific legal process, under the Civil Service Reform Act, for federal employment disputes. The plaintiffs in the case are attempting to bypass that process by asking the courts to reinstate federal workers without following established rules.
The coalition also points out that some states have shown major academic gains after reclaiming control over education policy. Mississippi and Louisiana have seen dramatic improvement in reading and math scores, proof that restoring authority to the states can lead to real results for students.
“South Carolina knows what our students need better than Washington bureaucrats do,” Attorney General Wilson said. “We’re proud to stand with President Trump as he fights to drain the swamp and empower states to fix a broken education system.” The brief cautions the court against interfering in the constitutional separation of powers, noting that the President must be free to manage the federal workforce and set policy priorities without judicial micromanagement.
South Carolina joined Montana, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas in filing the amicus brief.
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