Attorney General Letitia James, 20 other attorneys general sue to stop DOE cuts
NYS Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference at her Manhattan office Jan. 8. Credit: Jeff Bachner
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined 20 other state attorneys general Thursday in suing the Trump administration to stop cuts and layoffs to the Department of Education.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the firing of half the department's workforce after Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Fox News the cuts were "the first step of a total shutdown" of the department.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to issue a court order to block the layoffs and programs and argues the president’s administration lacks authority to make the cuts without Congress.
"Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions to dismantle [the department] are illegal and unconstitutional," James’ office said.
The lawsuit argues that cuts would affect New York schools that receive nearly $6.2 billion in federal funding, or $2,438 per student in K-12 schools, James said. New York state public colleges and SUNY universities received an average of $1,256 per student last year, according to James' office.
"This administration may claim to be stopping waste and fraud, but it is clear that their only mission is to take away the necessary services, resources, and funding that students and their families need," James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. "Firing half the Department of Education’s workforce will hurt students throughout New York and the nation, especially low-income students and those with disabilities who rely on federal funding. This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education is reckless and illegal."
In an email, Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education, said: "President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American public to return education authority to the states. The Department of Education’s reduction in force (RIF) was implemented carefully and in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws. They are strategic, internal-facing cuts that will not directly impact students and families."
The Education Department serves 50 million students in grades K-12 nationwide in nearly 100,000 public schools and more than 30,000 private schools. It also supports 12 million students annually in higher education, James said.
Defenders of education funding said the cuts would most hurt low-income families and children with special needs and disabilities.
Federal special education funds include technology, teacher salaries and benefits, social workers, physical therapy, speech therapy and transportation for students who receive aid, James said.
In her email, Biedermann said: "No employees working on the FAFSA, student loan servicing, and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title funds — including formula and discretionary grants programs — were impacted. No employees in the Office of Special Education Programs or the Rehabilitation Services Administration who serve children with disabilities were impacted. The Office for Civil Rights will continue to investigate complaints and vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws. The RIF is being undertaken in accordance with Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 351 and the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for covered Department employees which went into effect on January 17, 2025."
The lawsuit argues that layoffs will leave the Education Department "incapacitated" and cuts will defund the department’s Office of Civil Rights, which helps protect against discrimination and sexual assault.
Funding cuts also could affect financial aid and Pell Grants, where New York recipients lead the nation, James said.
Other states joining the lawsuit are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined 20 other state attorneys general Thursday in suing the Trump administration to stop cuts and layoffs to the Department of Education.
The lawsuit seeks to stop the firing of half the department's workforce after Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Fox News the cuts were "the first step of a total shutdown" of the department.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to issue a court order to block the layoffs and programs and argues the president’s administration lacks authority to make the cuts without Congress.
"Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions to dismantle [the department] are illegal and unconstitutional," James’ office said.
The lawsuit argues that cuts would affect New York schools that receive nearly $6.2 billion in federal funding, or $2,438 per student in K-12 schools, James said. New York state public colleges and SUNY universities received an average of $1,256 per student last year, according to James' office.
"This administration may claim to be stopping waste and fraud, but it is clear that their only mission is to take away the necessary services, resources, and funding that students and their families need," James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. "Firing half the Department of Education’s workforce will hurt students throughout New York and the nation, especially low-income students and those with disabilities who rely on federal funding. This outrageous effort to leave students behind and deprive them of a quality education is reckless and illegal."
In an email, Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education, said: "President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American public to return education authority to the states. The Department of Education’s reduction in force (RIF) was implemented carefully and in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws. They are strategic, internal-facing cuts that will not directly impact students and families."
The Education Department serves 50 million students in grades K-12 nationwide in nearly 100,000 public schools and more than 30,000 private schools. It also supports 12 million students annually in higher education, James said.
Defenders of education funding said the cuts would most hurt low-income families and children with special needs and disabilities.
Federal special education funds include technology, teacher salaries and benefits, social workers, physical therapy, speech therapy and transportation for students who receive aid, James said.
In her email, Biedermann said: "No employees working on the FAFSA, student loan servicing, and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title funds — including formula and discretionary grants programs — were impacted. No employees in the Office of Special Education Programs or the Rehabilitation Services Administration who serve children with disabilities were impacted. The Office for Civil Rights will continue to investigate complaints and vigorously enforce federal civil rights laws. The RIF is being undertaken in accordance with Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 351 and the most recent collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for covered Department employees which went into effect on January 17, 2025."
The lawsuit argues that layoffs will leave the Education Department "incapacitated" and cuts will defund the department’s Office of Civil Rights, which helps protect against discrimination and sexual assault.
Funding cuts also could affect financial aid and Pell Grants, where New York recipients lead the nation, James said.
Other states joining the lawsuit are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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