Big blow to Trump as judge blocks explosive move to axe Education Department — mass firings paused, legal battle looms, here’s what’s next

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s recent move to drastically scale down the Department of Education (DOE), saying that the administration cannot carry out such actions without authorization from Congress. The ruling comes after the Trump administration announced a major staff reduction in March—seen by critics as an effort to quietly shut down the department.

In a detailed opinion issued on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun stated that the planned mass firings went far beyond a typical administrative reorganization. The judge also ordered the reinstatement of all employees who were terminated under the plan.

What did the judge say about Trump’s plan?

Judge Joun was clear in his ruling that the administration’s actions could not be classified as a simple restructuring. He pointed out that President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to eliminate the Department of Education, and said this plan appeared to be an indirect way of doing so without following the law.


“The idea that Defendants’ actions are merely a ‘reorganization’ is plainly not true,” Judge Joun wrote. “Defendants do acknowledge, as they must, that the Department cannot be shut down without Congress’s approval, yet they simultaneously claim that their legislative goals are distinct from their administrative goals… There is nothing in the record to support these contradictory positions.”

How has the Department of Education responded?

Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the Department of Education issued a sharp response. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Madi Biedermann criticized the judge’s decision and defended the administration’s authority to restructure federal agencies.

“President Trump and the Senate-confirmed Secretary of Education clearly have the authority to make decisions about agency reorganization efforts—not an unelected judge with a political axe to grind,” Biedermann said. “This ruling is not in the best interest of American students or families. We will immediately challenge this on an emergency basis.”

Is this part of a larger pattern of legal challenges?

Yes. The decision comes just one day after another federal court blocked a different action by the Trump administration—this time involving the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. In that case, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled that the administration could not fire two Democratic board members without cause.

Judge Walton said that allowing the President to remove members at will would undermine the independence of the board, which was created by Congress to ensure that counterterrorism efforts respect civil liberties.

He wrote, “It would make the board beholden to the very authority it is supposed to oversee on behalf of Congress and the American people.”

What is the administration’s argument?

The Trump administration maintains that the President has the constitutional authority to remove executive personnel, including agency staff and board members. White House spokesman Harrison Fields told the Associated Press, “The Constitution gives President Trump the power to remove personnel who exercise his executive authority.”

Fields also said the administration remains confident in its legal position and is preparing to appeal the decisions.

What happens next for the Department of Education?

For now, the court’s decision means that the Department of Education will continue operating as usual, and all affected employees must be reinstated. But the legal fight is likely to continue, as the administration has vowed to challenge the ruling.

Why does this matter for American education policy?

President Trump’s push to downsize the Department of Education ties into a long-standing debate over the federal government’s role in schools. Supporters of the move argue that education decisions should be made at the state and local level, not in Washington. Opponents argue that federal oversight is essential to protect educational standards and civil rights across all states.

This court ruling sends a clear message: major changes to federal departments require Congressional action. Even a sitting president cannot dismantle an entire agency without legislative support.

FAQs:

What did the judge say about President Trump's Department of Education plan?
The judge ruled that Congress must approve any move to dismantle the DOE, blocking Trump’s layoffs.

Can President Trump shut down the Department of Education on his own?
No, the court said only Congress has that authority, not the President alone.