Latest news with #Joun
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Notes: An Education Department win, a mixed bag on Prince George's bonds, personnel changes
Supporters rally behind federal workers who lost jobs at the Department of Education. A federal judge last week ordered them reinstated, in the latest twist in the case. (Photo by Jess Daninhirsch/Capital News Service) A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's executive order that would have dismantled the Department of Education, and he ordered the reinstatement of hundreds of department employees who were laid off in a massive March reduction in force. U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun ruled Thursday that there is no evidence the layoffs were part of a plan to improve efficiency at the department, but said they were merely steps toward closing the statutorily mandated agency without congressional approval, or even any effort to get Congress to do so. 'A department without enough employees to perform statutorily mandated functions is not a department at all,' Joun wrote. 'This court cannot be asked to cover its eyes while the Department's employees are continuously fired and units are transferred out until the Department becomes a shell of itself.' The ruling, in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, came in response to legal challenges filed there by 21 Democratic attorneys general, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, and by a coalition of labor and education groups . A separate challenge was filed days later by a group of advocacy and labor groups in U.S. District Court for Maryland. Joun temporarily prohibited enforcement of a March 20 executive order that called for the department to take 'all necessary steps to facilitate the closure' of the federal agency, as well as the president's call to move oversight of federal student loans, nutrition programs and special education services to other federal agencies. Joun also ordered the return of more than 1,300 employees who were laid off in the March reduction in force. Federal layoffs drag down state employment gains for second month, new numbers show Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the department, told States Newsroom in a statement Thursday that the decision by 'a far-left' judge overstepped his authority. The administration filed an appeal the same day. 'President Trump and the Senate-confirmed Secretary of Education clearly have the authority to make decisions about agency reorganization efforts, not an unelected Judge with a political axe to grind. This ruling is not in the best interest of American students or families,' Biedermann said. But Brown, who has joined numerous lawsuits against the administration, said Joun's injunction 'ensures Maryland schools and students will get the resources they need while we continue the fight for our children's future in court.' 'Employees who work for the Department of Education help keep class sizes small, make sure students with disabilities get the care and support they deserve, and administer college loans and grants to young adults so they can one day land their dream job,' Brown said in a statement released Friday morning. Moody's Analytics has downgraded its rating of Prince George's County's general obligation bonds from its highest rating of Aaa to Aa1, saying the county's overall financial outlook is strong but noting that financial reserves are lower than other jurisdictions with similar ratings. The rating Thursday came the same day that the other two major bond-rating agencies, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings, reaffirmed the highest AAA ratings for the county's planned June 4 sale of $247.7 million in general obligation bonds. Both maintained their stable outlook for the county's finances, with Standard & Poor's saying it does 'not expect to lower the rating during the next two years.' Acting County Executive Tara Jackson acknowledged the 'slight downgrade' by Moody's but noted that it mirrors similar rating changes for other jurisdictions in the region. Both Maryland and the District of Columbia were downgraded in recent weeks by Moody's from Aaa to Aa1. Jackson said in a prepared statement that the overall ratings from all three agencies reaffirm the county's position as 'among the top-rated jurisdictions nationwide.' 'The AAA ratings from Fitch and S&P reaffirm our strong financial management and longstanding commitment to fiscal discipline,' Jackson's statement said. 'In light of our successful efforts to address the issues that led to their negative outlook, I am disappointed that Moody's chose to downgrade us to Aa1. 'Our ability to meet those challenges demonstrates our agility and sound planning. By maintaining healthy reserves, diversifying revenue, and investing strategically in our communities, we continue to build investor confidence and deliver long-term stability for our residents,' she said. The Moody's report cited the county's reliance on federal employment, with an estimated 9% of the county workforce classified as federal workers, but it said it 'has seen minimal data suggesting negative consequences from either job contraction or policy shifts' at the federal level so far. It added that the county's 'very large and dynamic local economy, with a pipeline of ongoing redevelopment projects in progress' will offset the possible loss of projects like the proposed new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, which President Donald Trump has proposed canceling. But Moody's said federal uncertainties present 'risk to its [the county's] budget and fiscal position in the next year and beyond,' and noted the county reserves, at 22% to 24% of revenues, were below the median of 33% for other Aa-rated jurisdictions. It reduced its ratings for county bonds across the board by a notch, but maintained a stable outlook for all. Standard & Poor's said its decision to keep an AAA rating for Prince George's reflects 'the county's strong economic trends, robust management practices, and very strong budgetary flexibility and liquidity.' It also cited the county's 'ability to maintain generally stable finances, balancing competing expenditure priorities consistent with a large, diverse, and growing community.' Fitch said its AAA rating represents 'the county's historically strong operating performance … and a 'high midrange' level of budgetary flexibility.' The independent body that oversees the state's 10-yeear, multibillion-dollar education reform plan needs new members. Applications opened Thursday for people to apply to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB). The AIB nominating committee will send the governor at least two names for each of three board vacancies. Board member Mara Doss, a former associate vice president for teaching, learning and student success at Prince George's Community College, plans to resign June 30 with one year left in her six-year term. Board member Laura Stapleton, who chairs the Human Development and Quantitative Methodology Department at the University of Maryland, College Park, said last week she will not reapply when her term expires July 1. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE AIB board member Joseph Manko, an education program officer at the Abell Foundation, also has a term that expires July 1. But Maryland Energy Secretary Paul Pinsky, who serves on the nominating committee, said in a meeting Tuesday that one person 'is seeking reappointment,' without naming names. Candidates should have expertise in certain areas, such as understanding of education policy, teaching in public schools and 'leading and implementing systemic change in complex organizations,' and they must submit a 500-word essay describing how they would contribute to the success of the board. Applications are due by 5 p.m. June 12 and nominees will be announced in July. The governor has 30 days after receiving the list to name the board members. Travis Nelson, the acting director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security since January 2024, is about to be 'acting' no more: Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced Friday that Nelson will officially take over as director on June 11. 'For the last year and a half, Travis has already been doing the work – helming the Office of Homeland Security as acting director,' Moore said in a statement from his office. 'This appointment marks simply the latest chapter in a distinguished record of keeping Marylanders safe and ensuring we are prepared for any crisis.' Nelson, a 19-year veteran of the Maryland State Police, has 'high-level experience coordinating complex public safety initiatives across the region,' according to the governor's office. Since 2014, he has served as co-chair of the Maryland Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group, working with multiple agencies to identify, prepare for and respond to active assailant incidents. He was previously commander of the Maryland State Police Complex Operations Management Unit, responsible for contributing to the oversight, management, and planning of complex incidents and events, the governor's office said. He began his public safety career more than 20 years ago in Kent and Queen Anne's counties, serving as an emergency communications specialist, public safety dispatcher, emergency medical technician and state trooper. He is a life member of the Kent and Queen Anne's Rescue Squad in Chestertown. Nelson said he was honored to be named to the director's job. 'In an era of evolving threats, our mission is clear: to build a more resilient, responsive, and unified security infrastructure that safeguards every Marylander,' he said, in the statement released by the governor's office. 'I look forward to working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and security of all our communities.' The Governor's Office of Homeland Security was formed in 2003 by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to coordinate state homeland security efforts, advise the governor and assess Maryland's readiness and ability to respond to disasters and emergencies.
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
US Education Department must reinstate nearly 1400 fired workers
Joun also agreed that the coalition of states, school districts and unions – who filed separate lawsuits that have been consolidated – are likely to suffer irreparable harm as the cuts result in financial uncertainty, impeded access to vital knowledge and the loss of essential services provided by the Office of Federal Student Aid and the Office for Civil Rights. Department employees, university leaders, state education agencies, union members and educators provided testimony in support of the coalition. 'This decision is a first step to reverse this war on knowledge and the undermining of broad-based opportunity,' said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the groups suing the department. 'For America to build a brighter future, we must all take more responsibility, not less, for the success of our children.' The Education Department denounced Joun's ruling, saying it was not in the best interest of American students and families. The agency plans to challenge the order on an emergency basis. 'Once again, a far-left judge has dramatically overstepped his authority, based on a complaint from biased plaintiffs, and issued an injunction against the obviously lawful efforts to make the Department of Education more efficient and functional for the American people,' Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the department, said in an email. 'President Trump and the Senate-confirmed Secretary of Education clearly have the authority to make decisions about agency reorganisation efforts, not an unelected Judge with a political ax to grind.' The ruling directs the Education Department to file status reports on their progress complying with the order within 72 hours and weekly after that until the department is restored to 'the status quo prior to January 20, 2025'. Sheria Smith, president of AFGE Local 252, which represents Education Department employees, welcomed the order. Smith, an attorney in the Office for Civil Rights who was herself laid off, said she expects all impacted members to have their jobs restored. 'Today's order illustrates that the work our members performed was critical to states, school districts, students, and our fellow citizens – despite this administration's statements to the contrary,' she said in a statement. The ruling arrives a day after the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators released a national survey of members who said the staff cuts at the department have led to breakdowns that could affect the processing of aid this year. About 59% of the 909 financial aid offices surveyed reported delays in processing timelines and responsiveness since the layoffs. Hundreds of staff in the Office of Federal Student Aid, which is responsible for administering student loans and Pell grants, have been let go. In April, college and university financial aid officers reported they were experiencing disruptions that slowed their ability to calculate financial aid offers and get timely answers from the department about everything from adding academic programs to remaining eligible to receive federal aid, the Post found. 'This is a huge rebuke and powerful ruling for all of us, but in some ways a lot of the damage has been done,' said Rachel Gittleman, who worked in Federal Student Aid's ombudsman office before the cuts. 'Even if we go back, will we be able to do the work we were doing?' Gittleman, who helped pull together employee declarations in the states' case, said many of her colleagues have been traumatised by the experience and worry about returning to a hostile work environment only to be let go again. One attorney at the agency's Office for Civil Rights who was laid off said she looks forward to returning to her job and hopefully resuming work on cases that she was forced to abruptly abandon. 'I think many of us will go back in the hopes that we will be able to be reassigned to the cases that we already have and we hope to be able to continue working on and get some resolution for people,' said the attorney, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. 'We want to do the work that Congress directed us to do.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Suffers Massive Blow in War on Education Department
A federal judge has blocked President Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon from carrying out an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Trump administration from carrying out the president's March executive order to dismantle the agency. 'Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making,' Trump said at the time. 'Everybody knows it's right. The Democrats know it's right, and I hope they're going to vote for it because ultimately it may come before them.' Joun disagreed, stating that the executive order painted 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 record abundantly reveals that defendants' true intention is to effectively dismantle the department without an authorizing statute,' Joun wrote, condemning the administration for trying to abolish a department without approval from Congress. Joun also called for the reinstatement of employees who were fired from the department by DOGE. 'Restore the department to the status quo,' he wrote in his ruling. Trump has yet to comment on the decision.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Restore the DOE": Federal judge blocks Trump's attempt to dismantle Department of Education
A federal judge threw a wrench into President Donald Trump's plans to dismantle the Department of Education, ordering the administration to reinstate hundreds of laid-off federal workers and blocking the president's executive order. In an injunction issued on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun called the Trump administration's actions a blatant end-run around needed congressional approval. "The record abundantly reveals that the defendants' true intention is to effectively dismantle the department without an authorizing statute," Joun wrote in the ruling. Joun offered a host of reasons for granting a preliminary injunction, saying that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits, were facing imminent harm, and that the actions taken by Trump's administration were arbitrary and capricious and exceeded their authority under the law. The order required Trump officials to reverse the layoffs and halt any further actions to reduce the size of the Cabinet department. Joun's ruling was one of several blows issued to the conservative movement against public education by the courts on Thursday. In a split ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision to block the creation of the nation's first religious charter school. The prospective St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School would have been the first religious school in the nation to operate under a privately run, publicly funded charter agreement. The school was opposed by Oklahoma's Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who seemed to fear that the precedent set by St. Isidore would allow public funding for "radical Islamic schools." Drummond called out the state's governor and superintendent of education by name in a post to X, celebrating their apparent loss at the high court. "I fought them at every turn to uphold our Christian values and defend religious liberty—and won," he wrote. Oklahoma offers tax credits to help offset tuition at private schools, including those run by religious institutions.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Bid to Kill Ed Dept., Orders Fired Workers Reinstated
A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's executive order to eliminate the Education Department and ordered officials to reinstate the jobs of thousands of federal employees who were laid off en masse earlier this year. Judge Myong J. Joun of the District Court in Boston wrote in the preliminary injunction that the Trump administration had sought to 'effectively dismantle' the Education Department without congressional approval and prevented the federal government from carrying out programs mandated by law. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Trump administration officials have claimed the March layoffs of more than 1,300 federal education workers were designed to increase government efficiency and were separate from efforts to eliminate the agency outright, claims that Joun deemed 'plainly not true.' 'Defendants fail to cite to a single case that holds that the Secretary's authority is so broad that she can unilaterally dismantle a department by firing nearly the entire staff, or that her discretion permits her to make a 'shell' department,' Joun, a Biden appointee, wrote. Related Combined with early retirements and buyouts offered by the administration, the layoffs left the Education Department with about half as many employees as it had when Trump took office in January. That same month, Trump signed an executive order calling on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to 'take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education.' The Trump administration has acknowledged it cannot eliminate the 45-year-old department — long a goal of conservatives — without congressional approval despite layoffs that have left numerous offices unstaffed. Yet there is 'no evidence' the Trump administration is working with Congress to achieve its goal or that the layoffs have made the agency more efficient, Joun wrote. 'Rather, the record is replete with evidence of the opposite.' 'A department without enough employees to perform statutorily mandated functions is not a department at all,' he said. 'This court cannot be asked to cover its eyes while the Department's employees are continuously fired and units are transferred out until the Department becomes a shell of itself.' The White House didn't respond to requests for comment. The Education Department said it plans to appeal. In a statement, Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann blasted the court order and called Joun 'a far-left Judge' who overstepped his authority and the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit to halt the layoffs — including two Massachusetts school districts and the American Federation of Teachers — 'biased.' Also suing to stop the layoffs is 21 Democratic state attorneys general. 'President Trump and the Senate-confirmed Secretary of Education clearly have the authority to make decisions about agency reorganization efforts, not an unelected Judge with a political axe to grind,' Biedermann said. 'This ruling is not in the best interest of American students or families. We will immediately challenge this on an emergency basis.' Related Cutting the federal education workforce in half — from 4,133 to 2,183 — undermines its ability to distribute special education funding to schools, protect students' civil rights and provide financial aid for college students, plaintiffs allege. They include the elimination of all Office of General Counsel attorneys, who specialize in K-12 grants related to special education, and most lawyers focused on student privacy issues. Plaintiffs also allege the cuts hampered the agency's ability to manage a federal student loan program that provides financial assistance to nearly 13 million students across about 6,100 colleges and universities. The Office for Civil Rights was among those hardest hit by layoffs, with seven of its 12 regional offices shut down entirely. The move has left thousands of pending civil rights cases — including those that allege racial discrimination and sexual misconduct — in limbo. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called the temporary injunction the 'first step to reverse this war on knowledge.' Yet the damage is already being felt in schools, said Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts. 'The White House is not above the law, and we will never stop fighting on behalf of our students and our public schools and the protections, services and resources they need to thrive,' Tang said in a media release. In interviews with The 74 Thursday, laid-off Education Department staffers reacted with cautious optimism. It remained unclear if, or when, they might return to their old jobs — or if they even want to go back. Keith McNamara, a laid-off Education Department data governance specialist, said he's 'tempering my enthusiasm a bit' to see if Joun's order is overturned on appeal. But he said he was ' a lot more hopeful than I was yesterday' about the potential for the department to return to the way it operated prior to the cuts. For federal workers, he said the challenges have been ongoing and monumental, saying the last few months without work have 'been very chaotic.' Related 'It's been very difficult to look for other work because tens of thousands of us are all pouring into the job market at the same time,' he told The 74. 'It's been very stressful.' Rachel Gittleman, who worked as a policy analyst in the financial aid office before getting terminated, called the court order on Thursday 'a really broad rebuke on the administration's attempt to shut down this critically important department.' 'But in many ways, the damage has already been done' as fired employees begin to find new jobs, Gittleman said, and Education Department leadership works to push people out. McNamara said it was unclear Thursday whether the department would order fired employees back to work. Nearly his entire team was eliminated, he said, so it was uncertain what work he might do if he returned to the job. Asked if he was interested in doing so, he responded 'I'd have to really think about that.' 'Quite frankly, I don't think this administration is taking the job that the Education Department is supposed to be doing very seriously,' he said. 'I'm not sure I'd want to work for an agency that — from the very top — is hostile to the work that the department does.'
