On Monday July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a temporary order from its emergency docket that allows the Department of Education to proceed with significant layoffs affecting approximately 1,400 employees, reversing a lower‑court ruling . This decision empowers the Administration’s efforts to downsize and delegate federal education responsibilities to state and local authorities.
Context & Key Actions:
- In March, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon initiated a reduction-in-force (RIF) that impacted about half of the department’s workforce—lowering headcount from roughly 4,100 to 2,100.
- An accompanying executive order directed staff to return educational functions to the states and other agencies.
- A federal judge in Boston issued an injunction on May 22, forcing the department to reinstate staff and maintain its core functions.
- A First Circuit panel upheld the injunction on June 4, warning the RIF likely crippled the agency’s ability to fulfill its legal duties.
Supreme Court Ruling:
- The six-vote majority stayed the lower courts’ orders, enabling the layoffs and halting the reinstatement mandate.
- The Court’s brief order, issued without detailed explanation or breakdown of the vote, triggered a dissent from the three liberal justices.
- Justice Sotomayor warned this could undermine the federal agency’s capacity to uphold civil rights, manage student‑aid, and distribute critical educational resources.
What Happens Next:
- Although this ruling is provisional, it removes immediate legal constraints. The First Circuit will consider the merits, and further appeals (including possible Supreme Court review) may follow.
- Congress still holds authority to abolish or restructure an executive department, yet the decision marks a pivotal shift in executive powers over staffing and agency functions.
- The outcome has set the stage for a high-stakes legal confrontation around the future shape and role of federal education governance.
Secretary McMahon released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision:
“Today, the Supreme Court again confirmed the obvious: the President of the United States, as the head of the Executive Branch, has the ultimate authority to make decisions about staffing levels, administrative organization, and day-to-day operations of federal agencies. While today’s ruling is a significant win for students and families, it is a shame that the highest court in the land had to step in to allow President Trump to advance the reforms Americans elected him to deliver using the authorities granted to him by the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. Department of Education will now deliver on its mandate to restore excellence in American education. We will carry out the reduction in force to promote efficiency and accountability and to ensure resources are directed where they matter most – to students, parents, and teachers. As we return education to the states, this Administration will continue to perform all statutory duties while empowering families and teachers by reducing education bureaucracy.”