Supreme Court Permits Immediate Education Department Layoffs

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision split along ideological lines, has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to immediately lay off nearly 1,400 Department of Education employees by lifting a lower court injunction. The ruling, issued without detailed explanation, enables the administration to pursue efforts to decentralize and shrink federal education oversight, a key Trump campaign promise. President Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the move a win for states’ rights and parental control. Critics and dissenting justices warned the layoffs could harm vulnerable students, cripple the department, and expand presidential power at Congress’s expense. Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent argued the decision undermines the constitutional separation of powers. The broader litigation continues, and while the layoffs proceed, full closure of the department would still require congressional approval.