The Trump administration has approached the Supreme Court, aiming to temporarily halt an order by a Massachusetts federal judge mandating the reinstatement of nearly 1,400 Department of Education employees laid off in March. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer presented the administration’s case, asserting that U.S. District Judge Myong Joun lacks the authority to obstruct the Department’s restructuring efforts. This request is part of a legal contest involving several states and educational entities, which argue the reduction in force (RIF) violated federal administrative laws and the Constitution. The full details of the appeal can be accessed here.
Initially announced on March 11, the RIF was part of the administration’s objective of streamlining the Department of Education by reallocating discretionary responsibilities to the states. This decision came in conjunction with President Donald Trump’s executive order directing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to close the department and reassign key programs, such as student loans and special needs education. Judge Joun, however, issued a preliminary injunction to block these actions, highlighting concerns that such a reduction would incapacitate the Department’s ability to meet its statutory obligations. The ruling also prohibited the transfer of the mentioned programs. Judge Joun’s injunction is discussed further in his ruling, available here.
Sauer is seeking a stay from the Supreme Court to allow for an appeal process through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit and possibly the Supreme Court itself. He contends that the challengers of the RIF do not have the legal standing to litigate these changes in federal court, suggesting that the Merit Systems Protection Board would be the proper venue for such disputes. Sauer emphasizes that retaining the judge’s order would result in significant financial burdens on the government without providing concrete, irreparable harm to the challengers. Sauer’s complete arguments can be reviewed here.