Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking legal action to block what he calls an illegal and harmful effort by former President Donald Trump to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
Raoul and 20 other attorneys general filed a motion Monday seeking a preliminary injunction to halt mass layoffs and the transfer of core services from the department, moves ordered by Trump in a recent executive order. The action follows a lawsuit the coalition filed on March 13, shortly after the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate half of the department’s workforce.
According to Raoul, the situation has already caused chaos — not just in Washington, but in communities across the country.
“States, including Illinois, are already feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education,” Raoul said. “Enrollment deadlines for Illinois’ public community colleges and universities approach in a few short weeks, and the turmoil caused by the administration’s actions jeopardizes the futures of tens of thousands of Illinois students. The department also plays a crucial role in protecting K-12 education for all Americans — from ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to classrooms, to protecting students from discrimination and harassment. The Trump administration’s actions are unlawful, unconstitutional and severely harm students who have the most need for the Department of Education’s programs and services.”
The Trump administration’s March 20 executive order called for closing the department altogether. A day later, Trump directed the department to immediately begin outsourcing student loan management and special education services. In response, Raoul and his fellow attorneys general argue that these sweeping moves are not only disruptive, but unconstitutional.
Their lawsuit contends that the Department of Education, created by Congress, cannot be dismantled by presidential directive. They also argue that the abrupt layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act, which governs how federal agencies can make changes.
According to the coalition, the damage has already begun:
- Office of Civil Rights locations across the country have closed
- States have experienced delays in receiving federal education funding
- Critical services — from K-12 programs and disability support to adult education and vocational training — face disruption
Joining Raoul in the legal challenge are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The attorneys general are urging the court to act swiftly, hoping to block the Trump administration’s plan before more harm is done to students and school systems nationwide.
About Post Author
