Attorney General James, 20 other attorneys general sue to stop DOE cuts
New York Attorney General Letitia James joined 20 other states to sue the Trump administration on Thursday to stop cuts and layoffs to the Department of Education.
New York and the other attorneys general filed the lawsuit asking 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, saying it was “illegal and unconstitutional.”
“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 by the 21 states argues that cuts would affect New York schools that receive nearly $6.2 billion in federal funding, or $2,438 per students 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.”
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 includes technology, teacher salaries and benefits, social workers, physical therapy, speech therapy and transportation for students who receive aid, James said.
The lawsuit argues that layoffs will leave the Education Department “incapacitated” and cuts will defund the department’s Office of Civil Rights, to protect 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 in 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 states to sue the Trump administration on Thursday to stop cuts and layoffs to the Department of Education.
New York and the other attorneys general filed the lawsuit asking 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, saying it was “illegal and unconstitutional.”
“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 by the 21 states argues that cuts would affect New York schools that receive nearly $6.2 billion in federal funding, or $2,438 per students 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.”
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 includes technology, teacher salaries and benefits, social workers, physical therapy, speech therapy and transportation for students who receive aid, James said.
The lawsuit argues that layoffs will leave the Education Department “incapacitated” and cuts will defund the department’s Office of Civil Rights, to protect 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 in 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.
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