Supreme Court allows Trump to layoff nearly 1,400 Education Department employees

Washington – The US Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump to resume his plan to dismantle the Department of Education, clearing the way for the layoff of nearly 1,400 employees. This comes after the court lifted a lower court order that had temporarily blocked the move.

In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the justices granted the administration's emergency request to pause a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston. Judge Joun had warned that the layoffs could “cripple the department” and raised concerns over the legality of shutting it down entirely.

The ruling is seen as a major win for Trump, advancing his long-standing campaign pledge to eliminate the federal education agency.

The court’s conservative majority did not offer an explanation, which is typical in emergency rulings. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, warned the court was permitting unlawful executive action.

“When the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it,” Sotomayor wrote.

The nearly 1,400 employees affected had been on paid leave since March. Judge Joun’s injunction had blocked their termination, but the union said they were not allowed to return to work. Without the court’s intervention, layoffs would have taken effect in early June.

Earlier this month, the department had said it was “assessing how to reintegrate” the employees and asked if they had found other jobs, signaling a possible reinstatement effort.

The ruling affects two consolidated lawsuits—one filed by Massachusetts school districts and education unions, and the other by 21 Democratic attorneys general. Both argued that the layoffs would cripple the department’s ability to perform its federally mandated duties, including administering student aid, overseeing civil rights protections, and supporting special education.

With the injunction lifted, the Trump administration is now free to proceed with winding down the department—bringing a controversial campaign promise closer to completion.