California joined other Democratic-led states on Thursday indicting the Trump administration seeking to stop mass layoffs at the Education Department, accusing its cuts involving it illegally shutting down its critical work to manage student loans, protect civil rights, and help poor areas and students with disabilities.
In a lawsuit filed in the federal district court of Massachusetts, California. General Rob Bonta joined the lawyer representing 19 democracies and the District of Columbia. The complaint said staff reduced the “reckless” attempt announced by Education Secretary Linda McMahon this week, trying to shut down the department through work carried out by Congress by making President Trump willing to close it.
The Trump administration began tearing down the department this week, ruling half of the agency’s employees and performing what McMahon said was key to the “final mission” that the department no longer exists.
“This is the bedrock constitutional principle, and the president and his institutions cannot make laws. Instead, they can only (in fact, they must) enforce laws enacted by Congress, including those that constitute federal agencies and direct their duties,” the lawsuit said. “this
Therefore, the administrator must neither completely cancel the agency by reducing the personnel required to perform the legal obligations of the agency. ”
The Ministry of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit requires a judge to order a layoff, which will take effect on March 21. Reducing staff will reduce the 2,183 workers in the department from 4,133 in January.
Bonta filed lawsuits with attorneys in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Oregon, Washington, Washington, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Walmont, and Columbia.
California received billions of federal funds from K-12 and higher education students and programs from the Department of Education. The department is not clear on how to meet its funding obligations, but said this week that Congress will continue to work.
California estimates that $16.3 billion in federal funding will be provided to K-12 school students each year, about $2,750 per student. The Los Angeles Unified School District (the country’s second largest school system) has its annual federal support of $1.26 billion.
Not all of these dollars are remitted through the Ministry of Education. A large amount of funding for federal early childhood education comes from the Department of Health and Human Services, and the huge student meal program is funded by the Department of Agriculture. Los Angeles uniformly estimates it will receive $363 million to support students from low-income families.
About 80% of Los Angeles Uniform students are eligible for Title I-funded services designed to provide academic support to students from low-income and impoverished families. Help includes tutoring, smaller courses, after-school courses, teacher training, counseling and family participation. Another major funding area helps students with disabilities.
In higher education, the education sector also paid student loans to 43 million borrowers who owed the government more than $1.5 trillion. For example, about half of CAL State University students receive student loans, which is a portfolio of over $1 billion.
The Pell Grants Program awards more than $120 billion in awards to 13 million students each year to help pay for higher education. The Pell grant for California students is set aside about $1.5 billion a year.
Questions about civil rights enforcement have also raised questions. As part of the layoffs, in San Francisco, the regional branch of the Department’s Office of Civil Rights has concluded an investigation into school-related discrimination. Six other regional civil rights offices are also planning to close.
Monday’s lawsuit is one of several lawsuits filed by Bonta and Blue State Attorney General against the Trump administration.
On March 6, California joined seven other states, suing the Trump administration to cancel a $250 million grant ($600 million nationwide) to pass a teacher training program funded by the education department. The government said the plans promote inappropriate and “schizophrenia ideology” related to diversity, equity and inclusion (called dei). A federal judge ordered the plan to be restored Monday when the case was reviewed.
