Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Order to Shut Down Department of Education, Orders Reinstatement of Fired Workers

In a dramatic legal rebuke, a federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, ruling the directive unconstitutional and ordering the immediate reinstatement of hundreds of fired employees.

The ruling came after a coalition of civil rights groups and education advocates filed an emergency lawsuit, arguing that Trump’s attempt to abolish the department violated both federal law and constitutional protections for public servants.

Judge Marilyn Fletcher, presiding in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled that the executive order exceeded presidential authority and posed a direct threat to the country’s public education system.

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“No president has the unilateral power to erase an entire federal department created by Congress,” the judge stated in her opinion. “The Education Department is not a personal project. It is a public institution that serves millions of Americans.”

The now-blocked order had sought to eliminate the department entirely by the end of 2025, reallocating its responsibilities to state governments and private sector partners. The controversial move was met with fierce backlash from educators, unions, and Democratic lawmakers.

President Trump had defended the order as a bold step toward “dismantling federal overreach” and restoring local control of education.

But in her ruling, Judge Fletcher emphasized that “policy disagreements do not justify dismantling constitutional governance.”

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The court also directed the immediate reinstatement of all terminated staff and ordered the Department of Education to resume full operations without delay. Legal experts say the ruling sends a powerful message that the separation of powers and institutional integrity must be upheld, even in turbulent political times.

The Trump campaign has already vowed to appeal the decision, signaling a potential showdown at the Supreme Court.

As the 2026 midterm season heats up, the ruling is expected to become a flashpoint in the national debate over education reform and presidential powers.