Supreme Court Allows US Education Department Layoffs, Impacting Millions

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow President Donald Trump's administration to proceed with mass layoffs and a significant downsizing of the Department of Education, overturning lower court injunctions that had blocked these actions. The layoffs include cutting about 1,378 employees, with notable closures of regional offices of the Office for Civil Rights, affecting investigations and services for millions of K-12 students. While Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the ruling as a confirmation of presidential authority over federal agency staffing and praised it as a win for educational reform, dissenting justices warned the decision threatens the Constitution's separation of powers and accused the majority of enabling executive overreach. The controversy stems from concerns that the administration's reductions aim to dismantle the department without congressional approval, a move challenged by 20 Democrat-led states and civil rights advocates. Despite the layoffs, the administration reinstated some employees after acknowledging some cuts affected critical functions, emphasizing that the president has the prerogative to manage executive branch operations. The layoffs have left many employees on paid leave since March, with ongoing debates about the legality and implications of such drastic departmental cuts.