In a controversial decision, the U.S. Supreme Court, dominated by its conservative majority, issued an unsigned order on Monday allowing President Donald Trump to resume efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. The ruling overturned a federal district judge’s stay that had blocked mass layoffs at the department, prompting sharp dissent from the court’s three liberal justices.

Trump, who campaigned on eliminating the Department of Education—established by Congress in 1979—initiated significant workforce reductions in March, aiming to cut nearly half of the department’s staff. He directed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to effectively dissolve the agency. This move faced legal challenges from approximately 20 states and teachers’ unions, who argued that Trump’s actions violated the separation of powers by overriding congressional authority.

In May, District Judge Myong Joun ordered the reinstatement of hundreds of terminated Education Department employees. However, the Supreme Court’s latest decision lifted this order without providing a rationale, aligning with another recent ruling that permitted widespread firings across other federal agencies. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, issued a scathing dissent, warning that “only Congress has the power to abolish the Department” and that the ruling poses a “grave” threat to the Constitution’s separation of powers.

The federal government plays a limited but critical role in U.S. education, contributing about 13% of funding for primary and secondary schools, with the remainder covered by state and local sources. Federal funds are vital for low-income schools and students with special needs, and the Department of Education has been instrumental in upholding civil rights protections for students.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has pursued aggressive downsizing of the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), previously led by Elon Musk. His administration has targeted tens of thousands of federal jobs and programs, including diversity initiatives, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Education Department itself. The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant step in enabling these sweeping changes, raising concerns about the future of federal support for education.