Educators and Advocates Unite: Legal Battle Over Trump’s Education Department Shutdown

In a bold legal move, teacher unions and public school organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to halt its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit, submitted on Monday, accuses President Trump of overstepping legal boundaries by signing an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to close the department without Congressional approval.

The first lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts by Democracy Forward on behalf of a local school district and several teacher and professor unions.

The second lawsuit, filed in Maryland, was brought by the National Education Association, the NAACP, and other advocacy groups . Both lawsuits argue that the department, created by Congress, cannot be dismantled by executive order alone.

The lawsuits, supported by organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Education Association (NEA), AFSCME Maryland Council 3, and others, argue that dismantling the department exceeds the constitutional authority of the executive branch. Advocacy groups contend that the Trump administration’s actions—including significant workforce reductions and the termination of $1.5 billion in federal education contracts—disrupt critical functions such as enforcement of civil rights laws, special education funding, and administration of financial aid programs like Pell Grants.

The complaint emphasizes that the Department of Education, created by Congress, plays an essential role in providing equitable opportunities for students, particularly those from underserved communities, including students with disabilities and low-income families. The lawsuit also highlights concerns about the impact of the department’s closure on the educator workforce, with more than 400,000 jobs potentially at risk.

“Taken together, Defendants’ steps since January 20, 2025, constitute a de facto dismantling of the Department by executive fiat…,” the complaint alleges, stressing that eliminating the department requires Congressional approval, not unilateral action by the executive branch.

Advocacy leaders and plaintiffs in the litigation voiced strong opposition to the administration’s actions. NEA President Becky Pringle criticized the move for threatening students’ opportunities and widening educational disparities. NAACP President Derrick Johnson underscored the harm to vulnerable communities, describing the effort as an unlawful attack on the nation’s public education system.

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Myong Joon, a Biden appointee, and marks the second legal challenge against the department’s dissolution this month. Earlier, Democratic state attorneys general filed a similar lawsuit opposing the administration’s workforce reduction plans.