The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene and reinstate nearly 1,400 layoffs at the Department of Education after a federal judge blocked the move, calling it potentially devastating for the agency’s operations.

On Friday, the Justice Department filed an emergency request asking the high court to pause a preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Myong Joun in Boston. The judge’s ruling halted President Donald Trump’s effort to dramatically scale down the Education Department a central promise of his campaign.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that Judge Joun had overstepped his authority by interfering with executive policy decisions. In the court filing, Sauer defended the layoffs as part of a broader plan to “streamline” the department and shift educational responsibilities back to the states.

Joun had written in his May decision that the job cuts could “likely cripple the department,” and placed a freeze on Trump’s plan to wind down its functions. An appeals court has since refused to lift that order.

The case stems from two lawsuits. One was brought by Massachusetts school districts and the American Federation of Teachers, the other by 21 Democratic attorneys general.

Both argue the plan amounts to an unlawful shutdown of a federal agency, and would paralyze essential functions such as distributing student financial aid, supporting special education programs, and enforcing civil rights laws in schools.

The Supreme Court has already ruled narrowly against the administration in a related case, voting 5–4 in April to block Trump from ending Education Department teacher-training grants.

As the legal battle escalates, the Supreme Court now faces a decision that could reshape the future of the Education Department and test the limits of presidential authority over federal agencies.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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