Multiple States Sue Trump Administration Over Department of Education Dismantling

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The lawsuit follows the administration’s March 11 announcement to eliminate approximately 50 percent of the department’s workforce as part of a broader plan to shut down the agency. The coalition argues that these actions would severely impact millions of students by eliminating critical resources and federal education funding.

The Department of Education provides essential support to nearly 18,200 school districts, serving over 50 million K-12 students nationwide. The department’s programs also benefit more than 12 million postsecondary students through financial aid services, including grants and loans. Students with disabilities and those from low-income families rely on ED’s funding for special education, transportation, therapy services, and other support programs. The proposed cuts would also affect rural school districts, which often lack the necessary resources to compete for funding.

According to the lawsuit, the administration’s workforce reduction would incapacitate the department, preventing it from fulfilling its responsibilities. The cuts would significantly impact the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates discrimination and sexual assault in schools. Additionally, disruptions in financial aid processing could make it more difficult for students to access federal loans, Pell Grants, and work-study programs. The attorneys general argue that dismantling the department without congressional approval is unconstitutional, as the ED was established through legislative action and its programs are funded through laws enacted by Congress.

Attorney General Brown is joined in the lawsuit by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont. The coalition seeks a court order to halt the administration’s plans and protect students’ access to education funding and services.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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