On Monday, a U.S. Supreme Court that is ideologically split allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with the termination of hundreds of employees at the U.S. Department of Education, where both he and Secretary Linda McMahon are dedicated to swiftly reducing the size of the federal agency.
The decision, which was reached with a 6-3 vote, witnessed the conservative majority of the state opposing the three liberal justices.
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated that the ruling essentially endorses Trump’s assertion that he is able to bypass Congress “by dismissing all those essential to implement them.”
“The majority is either deliberately ignoring the consequences of its decision or is simply uninformed,” Sotomayor stated, “but in either case, the danger to the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution is significant.”
“When the Executive openly declares its intention to violate the law and subsequently acts on that declaration, it is the responsibility of the Judiciary to address that lawlessness, rather than facilitate it,” she continued.
The brief, unsigned order issued by the majority lacked an accompanying explanation, which is customary during emergency hearings.
A week prior, the high court endorsed Trump’s choice to dismiss thousands of federal employees. The ruling on Monday serves as an extension of that power, and the administration has pledged to act promptly to overhaul the Department of Education, asserting that liberal state employees have remained on the public payroll for an extended period.
Throughout his campaign, President Trump pledged to abolish the Department of Education (DOE), a commitment realized in March via an executive order directing McMahon to “oversee the dissolution of the Department of Education.” At that time, employees were put on paid leave, which was scheduled to end on June 9 prior to the plaintiffs initiating legal action.
The lawsuit was initiated by Democratic attorneys general, public sector unions, and school districts located in Somerville and Easthampton, Massachusetts.
Approximately 1,400 DOE employees are targeted for dismissal, having maintained their hopes following an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston. The judge determined that the layoffs “will likely cripple the department,” as reported by the AP.
Lawyers representing the U.S. Justice Department responded by stating that the Constitution bestows upon the executive branch, rather than Congress, the authority to determine the number of federal employees required to effectively carry out the functions of its branches, as reported by USA Today.
Solicitor General John Sauer informed the Supreme Court that the Department of Education has concluded it can fulfill its legally required duties with a reduced workforce, and that numerous discretionary responsibilities are more appropriately managed by the States.
Individuals who have been removed from the Department of Education (DOE) are engaged in various fields such as special education, the distribution of financial aid, and the enforcement of civil rights legislation. The Trump administration has committed to replenishing these roles by providing direct funding to comparable state programs.
The layoffs represent approximately 50% of the Department of Energy’s workforce, decreasing the agency’s total from 4,133 employees at the time Trump assumed office in January to 2,183 employees.
Additional duties of the Department of Education, such as the administration of student loans, are anticipated to be integrated into the U.S. Small Business Administration. The oversight of special education services is projected to be managed by the U.S. Health and Human Services.