Press Release: 2025-03-13 00:00:00

AG Campbell Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Efforts To Dismantle Department Of Education

 

21 Attorneys General Argue Administration Cannot Dismantle Congressionally-Created Departments; Department Cannot Adequately Perform Statutory Requirements with Drastic Workforce Reduction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

3/13/2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Sydney Heiberger, Press Secretary

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Call Sydney Heiberger, Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543

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Email Sydney Heiberger, Press Secretary at Sydney.Heiberger@mass.gov

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education (Department), and President Trump over their unlawful attempt to dismantle the Department. Through their lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, the coalition is seeking a court order to stop the Administration’s policies to dismantle the Department by drastically cutting its workforce and programs.  

The Department of Education serves more than 50 million K-12 students across the country and directs more than 25% of its total spending to state and local governments. In Massachusetts, K-12 schools receive nearly $2 billion annually from the federal government to support needs like special education programs, teacher salaries and benefits, social workers, professional development programs, after school programs, transportation, and reading and language specialists. 

“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,” said AG Campbell. “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 hold this Administration accountable for illegal actions that harm our residents and economy.” 

On March 11, the Department announced it would be eliminating nearly half of its workforce as part of its “final mission,” which Secretary McMahon later indicated was to dismantle the Department. Nearly 2,000 employees will be displaced due to the Department’s reduction in workforce.  

In its lawsuit, the coalition argues that the Trump Administration does not have the power to dismantle the Department or override the statutory responsibilities required of it. The Supreme Court ruled nearly a century ago that Congress alone has the power to establish and abolish administrative offices, as well as determine their functions. 

The coalition also argues that by drastically reducing its workforce, the Department will be unable to perform functions mandated by statute, including the various ways that the Department supports elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education programs. 

In the K-12 context, the coalition argues that dismantling the Department will deprive students with special needs of critical resources and support, creating chaos and uncertainty for teachers, administrators and students. In higher education, dismantling the Department would hamstring the process of financial aid, raising costs for college and university students who will have a harder time accessing federal subsidized loans, Pell grants, and work-study programs.  

The Department’s workforce reduction includes a drastic depletion of workers in the Department’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which plays a critical role in safeguarding equal access to public education and protecting students from discrimination and sexual assault. Notably, OCR reviewed its highest volume of complaints in fiscal year 2024. OCR’s Boston location was closed following the Department’s workforce reduction, risking school districts feeling emboldened to restrict access to quality education or ignore complaints of discrimination or hate. 

Joining AG Campbell in filing this lawsuit, which was co-led with the attorneys general from New York, Hawaii, and California, were the attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.