U.S. federal judge blocks Trump's bid to dismantle Department of Education

A federal judge on Thursday blocked Trump administration's attempt to dismantle the Department of Education, marking the first time a federal court has declared the administration's extensive changes to the department unlawful.

Judge Myong Joun of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, appointed by former President Joe Biden, issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the administration from terminating half of the department's workforce.

"The record abundantly reveals that defendants' true intention is to effectively dismantle the department without an authorizing statute," wrote Joun.

Lawyers from the U.S. Justice Department argued that the mass layoffs were not an attempt to shut down the agency, but rather a lawful effort to streamline operations and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies while maintaining the department's statutory mission.

However, Joun countered that the cuts were having the opposite effect, stating that the "massive reduction in staff has made it effectively impossible for the department to carry out its statutorily mandated functions."

"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 judge wrote.

It also prevents the department from shifting the management of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration.

U.S. President Donald Trump has long criticized the department, arguing that despite significant federal investment in education, the quality of education has not met expectations.

Citing low proficiency in reading and math among students in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools, Trump said that the department is "doing us no good" and his administration is returning education to the states.

In March, he signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the department.

The department had already initiated a large-scale layoff. According to earlier U.S. media reports, the department, which originally employed 4,000 people, planned to cut nearly half its workforce.

The creation or dismantling of federal agencies generally requires Congressional approval through legislation.

(With input from agencies)