Attorney General Ellison wins court order stopping dismantling of the Department of Education

May 22, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Attorney General Ellison today won a court order stopping the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). On March 13, Attorney General Ellison joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the administration after it announced plans to eliminate 50% of ED’s workforce. Following a March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of ED and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that, in addition to implementing layoffs, the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, Attorney General Ellison and the coalition sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services. Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the preliminary injunction, halting the administration’s policies that would dismantle ED and ordering all employees who were fired as part of the layoffs to be reinstated.

“Tens of millions of students across America depend on the Department of Education to receive the high-quality education that every child deserves,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “President Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education and throw our classrooms into chaos is deeply disturbing. I am proud to have sued to stop this illegal action and I am pleased to announce that, as of today, a court temporarily blocked this attack on our schools for the duration of that lawsuit. I look forward to continuing to litigate this case and stand up for our students, teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals."

Attorney General Ellison and the coalition argued in their lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction that the Trump administration’s attacks on ED are illegal and unconstitutional. The ED is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle it without an act of Congress. In addition, Attorney General Ellison and the coalition argue that ED’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

Joining Attorney General Ellison in filing the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.