In a disheartening blow that undermines the right of every child to receive a quality public education, the Supreme Court issued a ruling a few weeks ago allowing President Donald Trump to proceed with his plan to dismantle the Department of Education by laying off nearly half of its workforce.
As a mother of two boys in public schools and the product of public schools myself, this news was disturbing to say the least. Without any explanation, the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump Administration to begin dismantling a cabinet agency, created by Congress, that is tasked with fulfilling the federal government’s obligation to support public education. And make no mistake, this Administration will do everything in its power to hobble our nation’s schools—by cutting funding, supports, programming, and accountability measures that are critical to ensure every student has equal access and can live up to their potential.
But state attorneys general have the power to fight back. And while this case was a meaningful setback, it is only one battle among many we are fighting to protect our children and our future. With the rule of law on our side, we are winning far more than we are losing. The Courts have largely recognized that in America, we elect a president, not a king, and he doesn’t have the power to unilaterally override Congress’ power of the purse.
That’s why my fellow Democratic attorneys general and I are taking legal action. And we have no plans to take our foot off the gas.
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In July, I co-led a coalition of all 23 Democratic attorneys general and the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky in suing the Trump Administration for freezing nearly $7 billion in education funding right before the start of the new school year. This funding allows schools to offer afterschool programming and extracurricular activities, helps students meet our education standards, supports English language learners, and so much more. Year after year, this funding has been released to states on July 1; but not this year. School districts received a three-sentence email on the evening of June 30, just one night before they expected to receive their federal funding, informing them that the congressionally mandated funds were being withheld so that the Administration could decide whether they align with the President’s “priorities”.
Facing pressure from our lawsuit, the Department of Education backed down and released billions of this critical funding, which it had no legal right to withhold in the first place. As a result, school districts across the country will receive the federal dollars that they were counting on to meet an increasingly challenging set of student needs. But damage was still done. The chaos and confusion this disruption caused for our school districts, that scrambled to determine how to overcome the funding shortfalls created by this freeze, can’t be undone. But our lawsuit sent a clear message: this Administration won’t get any free passes to undermine our rule of law.
Getting these critical education dollars released is not our only win. When the Trump Administration attempted to withdraw hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for programs that address the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students, attorneys general sued, and a federal judge ruled that the Trump Administration’s actions violated the law. When the Department of Education tried again to withhold funding, we went back to the courtroom and asked a judge to issue another injunction. The Courts ruled in our favor yet again.
Like so many others, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the unwavering support of my teachers and quality public schools. I’m proud to be the first in my family to graduate from college and law school, a journey made possible in no small part by a supportive school system. Extracurricular programming and unique learning opportunities, many of which were made possible by federal education dollars, enabled me to discover my passions, build critical skills, and help me see a future I couldn’t yet imagine for myself. A future in which I would become the first Black woman to serve as attorney general of Massachusetts. A future in which I would fight like hell to protect our residents from a federal Administration that wishes to eliminate the very opportunities that made me the woman, mother, lawyer, and leader I am today.
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An excellent public education doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of a network of supports that includes both federal and local funding as well as enforcement of laws that ensure equity and accessibility for all students, regardless of their background. Education has the promise to be one of our country’s greatest equalizers. It sets up our nation’s children to have every opportunity to reach their full potential. It also plays a role in fostering a healthy democracy, allowing children to become informed and responsible citizens.
While the recent Supreme Court ruling presents a setback, it is by no means the end of our fight. Our resolve as attorneys general remains unbroken. As I write this, my office has filed 32 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. We have received favorable court orders and meaningful relief in almost all of them. Our judicial system is a powerful tool—a critical check on power and a defender of the rule of law. Democracy is only as strong as the people and institutions willing to protect it—and right now, many are rising to meet the occasion. We can’t afford not to. Our children and the future of our nation are at stake.
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