Explained: US supreme court allows Donald Trump to dismantle education department - why it is a big deal

Time of India

15-07-2025

Image viaTL;DR
Trump slashes Ed Department
: Supreme Court lets Trump fire 1,300+ employees, gutting the federal education agency.
Civil rights hit hard
: Office for Civil Rights loses over half its branches.
Congress bypassed
: Critics say only lawmakers can shut down departments — Trump's doing it by pink slip.
Court gives green light
: Ruling is temporary but clears path for mass firings.
Backlash begins
: Unions, Democrats warn of chaos for students and lost protections.
Trump cheers win
: Calls it a "major victory" for parents, promises to shift control to states.
In a seismic decision that could redefine the limits of presidential power, the US Supreme Court has allowed President
Donald Trump
to effectively dismantle the Department of Education—firing more than 1,300 employees and gutting key civil rights protections—without a single vote from Congress.
The move, effectively halving the department's workforce, marks a dramatic escalation in the administration's effort to shrink the federal role in American education.
Here's a breakdown of what the ruling means, how it happened, and what's likely to come next.
What happened?
On July 14, the Supreme Court issued an unsigned emergency order allowing the Trump administration to proceed with firing over 1,300 employees at the Department of Education.
That amounts to more than 50 percent of its staff. The order did not include a vote count or legal reasoning, which is typical for such applications.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, arguing that President Trump had no authority to unilaterally dismantle an agency created by Congress.
What is Trump trying to do?
On March 20, Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the department.
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The order cited low test scores and bureaucratic inefficiency. McMahon claimed the plan would promote 'efficiency and accountability' while returning education policymaking to the states.
The department oversees college loans, enforces civil rights in schools, monitors academic performance, and supports students with disabilities. Critics argue its dismantling would erode all of these functions.
Why is this legally controversial?
The Department of Education was established by Congress in 1979.
Under the US Constitution, only Congress can create or eliminate federal agencies. That's the argument made by 21 Democratic state attorneys general, several school districts, and the American Federation of Teachers, who sued to block Trump's executive order.
In May, Judge Myong J. Joun of the District of Massachusetts ruled in their favour, ordering the reinstatement of fired workers. He held that Trump's order amounted to an unconstitutional shutdown of a congressionally authorised agency.
An appeals court upheld the ruling.
The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, which has now allowed the firings to proceed while the case continues.
What's left of the Education Department?
Before Trump returned to office, the department had over 4,000 employees. After the mass terminations, fewer than 2,000 remain. Particularly hard-hit is the Office for Civil Rights, with seven of its twelve regional offices closed.
Administration officials insist that statutory duties will still be performed, but acknowledge that 'many discretionary functions are better left to the states.'
What are critics saying?
Justice Sotomayor warned the decision would cause 'untold harm' to students, delaying or denying them educational opportunities and leaving them vulnerable to discrimination without federal enforcement mechanisms.
'This isn't streamlining. It's sabotage,' said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Sheria Smith, president of the Education Department workers' union, called it 'an effort to play with the futures of millions of Americans.'
Why does this matter beyond education?
The court's ruling reflects a broader expansion of executive power. Just last week, the justices allowed Trump to proceed with sweeping cuts across several other departments, including State, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development.
The Education Department case raises a crucial constitutional question: can a president sideline an entire agency without congressional approval, simply by gutting its personnel?
If the answer is yes, it sets a precedent that future presidents — of either party — could use to shrink or even hollow out other federal departments without legislative input.
What happens next?
Although the Supreme Court's order is technically temporary, its effects are immediate. Workers who had been reinstated will now be terminated again. The department will continue to operate with a skeleton crew while the case plays out in court.
Congress could intervene to limit or reverse the firings, but that appears unlikely in the current political climate. Republicans control the House, and Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate.
Bottom line
The Supreme Court's decision allows Donald Trump to execute his most radical reorganisation of the federal government to date. By hollowing out the Department of Education, he has advanced a long-standing conservative goal: returning control of schools to the states and curbing federal oversight. Supporters see it as overdue reform. Opponents see it as reckless and authoritarian. Either way, American education — and American governance — may never be the same.
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FAQ — Quick Answers to a Messy Situation
Q: Did Trump really just fire half the Education Department?
Yes — more than 1,300 jobs gone. The department is now running at half strength.
Q: Wait, can a president just kill a federal agency?
Not officially. Only Congress can. But Trump is hollowing it out without technically "abolishing" it.
Q: What about students?
Expect less oversight. Civil rights enforcement, special ed, and student loan support could take a big hit.
Q: Is this permanent?
Not yet. The Supreme Court ruling is temporary — but the damage may already be done.
Q: What's the legal fight about?
Opponents say Trump overstepped. Supporters say he's just streamlining.
Courts will decide.
Q: Who's angry?
Democrats, teachers' unions, civil rights groups — and three Supreme Court justices in dissent.
Q: Who's celebrating?
Trump, his base, and anyone who wants to shrink the federal government.
Q: So what now?
The department limps on, the lawsuits roll forward — and the precedent gets more dangerous by the day.