Advocates sue to block attempted dismantling of US Education Department

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. teachers unions and rights advocates, including the NAACP, sued the administration of President Donald Trump on Monday to prevent the attempted dismantling of the federal Education Department, days after Trump signed an executive order to that effect.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The lawsuit came four days after the Republican president signed an order designed to leave school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local boards, a prospect that alarms liberal education advocates. Trump had promised during his election campaign that he would dismantle the agency.

Thursday's order was a first step "to eliminate" the department, Trump said. Shuttering the agency completely requires an act of Congress, and Trump lacks the votes for that.

KEY QUOTES

The department "is charged by Congress with advancing educational opportunity and quality," the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland said.

"Despite Congress's clear directives to the Department, the Trump Administration has stated numerous times, in the clearest possible terms, its intention to close this vital agency, most recently in a March 20, 2025, Executive Order," the filing added.

"These actions are unconstitutional and violate Congress's directives."

The Education Department had no immediate comment.

Earlier this month, a group of Democratic state attorneys general filed a similar lawsuit.

CONTEXT

Education has long been a political lightning rod in the United States. Conservatives favor local control over education policy and school-choice options that help private and religious schools, and left-leaning voters largely support robust funding for public schools and diversity programs.

Since taking office, Trump has tasked his billionaire ally Elon Musk with cost cutting and aimed to dismantle some U.S. agencies to bring down what they call wasteful spending.

Trump has threatened educational institutions with federal funding cuts over issues like diversity, equity and inclusion programs, transgender policy and pro-Palestinian protests.

BY THE NUMBERS

The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments. It provides federal grants for needy schools and programs and oversees $1.6 trillion in student loans.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;Editing by Mary Milliken and Michael Perry)