Washington has joined a coalition of 21 states in a lawsuit seeking to block former President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
State Attorney General Nick Brown announced Monday that Washington, along with 20 other attorneys general, has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against Trump’s March 20 order, which calls for the department’s closure. If granted, the injunction would temporarily halt the directive while legal proceedings continue.
The lawsuit follows an earlier legal challenge filed on March 13, when the coalition sought to prevent the administration from eliminating half of the department’s workforce. The latest legal action specifically aims to stop planned layoffs and prevent the transfer of student loan and special education services to external agencies.
Legal Challenge Against Dismantling the Department
Attorney General Brown emphasized the potential harm the cuts would cause to Washington’s students and families.
“The devastating cuts and layoffs at the Department of Education will directly harm Washington’s youth and their families,” Brown said. “Our office will fight to defend the education and health of our students from President Trump’s illegal order.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, layoffs have already led to the nationwide shutdown of the Office for Civil Rights outreach services, which play a critical role in protecting students from discrimination and sexual assault. Additionally, the cuts have delayed federal funding and approval processes for state schools.
The lawsuit argues that Trump’s executive order is unlawful, asserting that only Congress has the authority to dismantle a federal department. It also claims that the mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how federal agencies implement policies and changes.
The case is expected to move forward in the coming weeks, with significant implications for the future of federal education policy.
