New York Attorney General Letitia James is spearheading a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an effort to halt the administration’s plans to dismantle the Department of Education and lay off approximately 50% of its workforce. Critics argue this action will devastate educational resources across the country.
The lawsuit comes in response to a recent announcement from the Trump administration, which declared its intention to operate a “total shutdown” of the Department of Education.
Attorney General James described the administration’s claims of reducing waste and fraud as a “front” for an agenda that ultimately aims to strip students and their families of critical educational services and funding.
“This administration may claim to be stopping waste and fraud, but it is clear that their only mission is to take away the necessary services, resources, and funding that students and their families need,” James said in a statement. “Firing half of the Department of Education’s workforce will hurt students throughout New York and the nation, especially low-income students and those with disabilities who rely on federal funding. This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education is reckless and illegal. Today I am taking action to stop the madness and protect our schools and the students who depend on them.”
As outlined in the lawsuit, the attorneys general argue the fallout from dismantling the Department of Education will have negative impacts on states like New York. In federal fiscal year 2024, New York’s K-12 schools received about $6.17 billion from ED, amounting to approximately $2,438 for each student. For public colleges and universities, the federal funding averaged $1,256 per student. Meaning dramatic cuts could incapacitate ED and deprive special needs students of essential resources. Cutbacks could also undermine civil rights protections and increase the financial burden on students seeking higher education, according to the lawsuit.
The case insists the administration’s decision to reduce the department’s workforce and its programs is illegal and unconstitutional, arguing the ED is an executive agency established by Congress, with its various programs and funding mechanisms created through legislative action. Therefore, the coalition contends that the executive branch lacks the authority to unilaterally disband these operations without congressional approval.
Attorneys general from states including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, and Illinois, among others, join James in the suit, representing a strong political alliance and unified stance against the proposed dismantling of the education organization.
This latest legal action by Attorney General James continues a pattern of advocacy against what she describes as the Trump administration’s “illegal attacks” on critical services for New Yorkers. In previous months, she led coalitions that successfully secured court orders blocking attempts to revoke birthright citizenship, prevent misuse of private information by tech companies, and halt funding cuts to crucial health research institutions.
With millions of students facing an uncertain educational future, the coalition hopes the court will recognize the necessity of protecting an institution that serves as a lifeline for many American families.
“We must protect our schools and the students who depend on them,” James said.
The Department of Education supports nearly 18,200 school districts and over 50 million K-12 students in approximately 98,000 public schools and 32,000 private institutions across the country. Its funding supports standard educational needs as well as essential resources for students with disabilities and those from low-income families. Programs under ED include funding for special education, assistive technologies, teacher salaries, and even transportation services that are fundamental for ensuring equitable access to education.
