Education Department employees must be reinstated by Trump: Judge
Sarah Jo Marcotte, an educator from Vermont, holds a sign that reads “Here for my students!! Cuts Hurt.” outside of the U.S. Department of Education on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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‘Positive Developments for Students’
Following the recent injunction, the judge highlighted that the reduction in staff resulted in the closure of seven out of 12 offices responsible for upholding civil rights, particularly in safeguarding students against discrimination based on race and disability.
The complete team overseeing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was also disbanded, as noted by the judge. (An estimated 17 million families annually utilize the form to apply for college financial aid, according to higher education specialist Mark Kantrowitz.)
“This is encouraging news for students,” remarked James Kvaal, who previously served as the U.S. undersecretary of education under former President Joe Biden. “Educational institutions are already cautioning about the ramifications of these extensive layoffs on financial aid, and millions of borrowers require assistance in avoiding loan default in the upcoming months.”
The ruling from Thursday also appeared to halt the Trump administration’s aim of transferring the nation’s $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio from the Education Department to the Small Business Administration, Kantrowitz added.
Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Education Department, criticized the decision.
“Once again, an extremely left-leaning Judge has exceeded his jurisdiction, following a complaint from biased plaintiffs, and issued an injunction against the clearly lawful initiatives to enhance the efficiency and functionality of the Department of Education for the American populace,” Biedermann stated in a communication to CNBC.
She further stated that the Trump administration intends to challenge the ruling urgently.
Former President Jimmy Carter established the current U.S. Department of Education in 1979. Since its inception, the agency has encountered other existential threats, with former President Ronald Reagan advocating for its abolition and Trump, during his initial term, endeavoring to merge it with the Labor Department.
This story is developing. Stay tuned for updates.
