A sweeping attempt by President Donald Trump to shutter the US Department of Education has hit a legal wall. On Thursday, US District Judge Myong Joun issued a preliminary injunction that blocks the administration’s controversial plan to downsize and eventually eliminate the federal agency.The court has also ordered the immediate reinstatement of employees laid off in a mass firing on March 11.The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Somerville and Easthampton school districts in Massachusetts, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and several allied education groups. Together, they argued that the Trump administration’s actions amounted to an unconstitutional dismantling of the department — executed without congressional authorization and at the expense of essential public services.Judge Joun sided firmly with the plaintiffs. “The plaintiffs paint a stark picture of the irreparable harm that will result from financial uncertainty and delay, impeded access to vital knowledge on which students and educators rely, and loss of essential services for America’s most vulnerable student populations,” he wrote in the ruling as stated by the Associated Press. He warned that the scope of the layoffs “will likely cripple the Department.”

Executive overreach or administrative efficiency?

Trump’s repeated vows to eliminate the Department of Education — a cornerstone of his campaign rhetoric — have now collided with the constitutional limits of executive power. While the administration claims it was merely restructuring for efficiency, the sheer scale of the layoffs and the lack of congressional approval led the court to treat it as a de facto shutdown.The Education Department’s responsibilities — including special education support, federal student aid distribution, and enforcement of civil rights — were reportedly left in disarray after the layoffs. Plaintiffs argued that entire programs stalled due to missing personnel, and schools were left without federal guidance at a critical time.Judge Joun’s ruling is a firm rejection of the administration’s justification. “Layoffs of that scale,” he wrote, “will likely cripple the Department” as stated by the Associated Press.

A warning shot ahead of 2026

Trump’s strategy to weaken the department through executive action may have stalled, but it has not ended. The administration has made it clear that its ultimate aim — the closure of the department — remains a legislative goal. The administration said, as quoted by the Associated Press, that restructuring the agency “may impact certain services until the reorganization is finished” but it’s committed to fulfilling its statutory requirements.For many in the education community, that’s not a reassurance — it’s a red flag.Legal analysts suggest the case is a bellwether. While Congress alone has the power to dismantle a federal department, the executive branch can still cause significant disruption by bleeding it of resources, staff, and oversight.The injunction is temporary but consequential. With the presidential election looming and education emerging as a lightning rod issue, Thursday’s ruling may shape not only administrative boundaries but also the national discourse around the future of public education.The fight over the soul of the Department of Education is far from over — but for now, its heartbeat continues.