A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration must re-appoint staff at the U.S. Department of Education. This reversal comes after months of outcry over historic staff reductions that threatened the agency’s capacity to enforce civil rights protections for students. The judgment follows a suit brought by 21 states as the plaintiffs, including Michigan, Nevada and New York. It resolves a parallel legal suit filed by the American Federation of Teachers.
President Jimmy Carter created the U.S. Department of Education in 1979. OESE’s mission is to ensure that all students, including millions of Black and disabled students, are provided civil rights protections against discrimination. The department had initially functioned through 12 regional centers focused on civil rights enforcement. With staff cuts, seven of these offices have closed, corresponding to a loss of more than 1,300 staff.
Recent staff cuts have raised alarm over the future of financial aid services. This issue affects nearly 17 million households that apply for college aid annually. These mass layoffs threaten the department’s capacity to serve millions of borrowers and carry out its core mission functions.
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun underscored his belief in the significance of the department’s work in his ruling, stating.
“The Department must be able to carry out its functions and its obligations,” – U.S. District Judge Myong Joun
The U.S. Department of Education has faced existential threats in its history, notably when former President Ronald Reagan called for its termination in 1983. In his first term, President Trump attempted to fold the department into the Labor Department. This dramatic move prompted further concern about its future, however.
Unfortunately, in March 2020, President Trump signed an executive order to abolish the agency. At the time, this decision was highly controversial and resulted in multiple lawsuits challenging the ruling. The recent court ruling is a huge victory for advocates. More than that, they are fighting to defend the continued existence and functionality of the U.S. Department of Education.