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President Donald Trump secured another judicial victory as the Supreme Court allowed his administration to move forward with a major restructuring of the Department of Education, including mass layoffs intended to restore greater state control over schools.
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The court decided to postpone an earlier decision that had stopped the administration’s efforts in a brief, unsigned directive. While the legal battle is still pending, this suspension opens the door for layoffs to proceed. According to CNN, several workers who previously got notices of court-ordered reinstatement have now been formally informed that they will be let go on August 1.
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The message made it apparent that agency reorganization, not employee performance, was the reason for the cuts. The notice included the Supreme Court’s ruling. The liberal wing of the court dissented, as was to be expected. Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly reacted to the decision, criticizing it and warning that it jeopardized the separation of powers, whilst the other two left-leaning judges joined her in dissent eventually.
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Earlier this year, President Trump had directed the Department of Education to reduce its workforce by 50 percent. However, a Biden-appointed judge, Myong Joun, intervened and blocked the move following lawsuits filed by teachers’ unions and progressive education groups. The judge argued that Congress alone had the authority to dissolve or fundamentally restructure the department. After the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to overturn that ruling, the case was brought before the Supreme Court, which sided with the Trump administration.
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A response was issued by President Trump on Truth Social, in which the decision was hailed as a victory for American families. It was noted by him that the Supreme Court’s ruling had affirmed the authority held by the administration to return educational responsibilities to the states. It was further stated that, as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the initiation of this important process might now be undertaken by Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Ask ChatGPT
Secretary McMahon described the ruling as a milestone for students and parents, reaffirming that the executive branch holds the right to manage federal agency operations. She emphasized that the restructuring aims to reduce bureaucracy and ensure resources are focused on local communities, particularly students, parents, and teachers.
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While the Department of Education had been accused by critics of ignoring statutory obligations, McMahon reassured the public that the administration remained committed to fulfilling all legal duties during the transition. It was noted that the reduction in force would be seen as a measure to enhance efficiency and accountability, while decision-making power was expected to be placed closer to families and educators.
The initial ruling by Judge Joun had claimed that the layoffs could severely impact the agency’s core functions, leading to the reinstatement of approximately 1,400 employees. Justice Sotomayor echoed similar concerns, suggesting the reorganization might affect federal protections, particularly those related to civil rights in education.
Despite such claims, the Trump administration has remained focused on dismantling unnecessary federal overreach and restoring authority to states, reflecting a long-standing conservative vision for education policy.