A U.S. Federal Judge has blocked an attempt by the current administration to abolish the Department of Education and ordered that workers at the Education Department who were recently cut be brought back.
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun ordered the Education Department to reinstate federal workers who were terminated as part of a massive March 11 layoff announcement. The ruling came in conjunction with two lawsuits that claimed planned actions regarding the Education Department would result in an illegal closure.
Joun said in his order that the plaintiffs portrayed 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.”
The stated mission of the Department is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages.
The Trump administration is appealing the ruling.
