The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to continue large-scale cuts to her department’s workforce.¶
The Court’s 6-3 decision puts a temporary pause on a lower court’s order that required the department to reinstate employees who were part of McMahon’s planned reduction in force (RIF). That case now heads to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.¶
McMahon’s office has characterized the reduction of nearly 1,400 positions as the elimination of waste and the first step to outright eliminating the Department of Education and providing more autonomy to states.¶
“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,” said McMahon in a statement posted online. “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.” ¶
Justice Sotomayor Argues Education Cuts Violate Federal Law¶
Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Jackson dissented from the majority decision to lift the injunction on the cuts.¶
Sotomayor wrote a dissenting opinion for the three to argue that the RIF violates federal law because only Congress has the power to abolish the Department of Education.¶
“When the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it,” wrote Justice Sotomayor. “Rather than maintain the status quo, however, this Court now intervenes, lifting the injunction and permitting the Government to proceed with dismantling the Department. That decision is indefensible.”¶
