Arizona Teams Up with 20 States to Challenge Trump Administration’s Education Department Layoffs

A lawsuit was filed by 21 Democratic attorneys general against the Trump administration on Thursday, challenging the U.S. Education Department’s recent plan to eliminate over 1,300 positions. The complaint seeks to prevent the implementation of this “reduction in force” (RIF) and President Trump’s directive to dismantle the department.

Attorneys general from multiple states, including Arizona, California, and New Mexico, joined the suit. They argue that the RIF would incapacitate essential functions of the Department, inflicting significant harm on the educational systems within their states. The leaders of the 45-year-old agency announced plans for substantial staffing cuts, raising serious concerns over the future functionality of the Department.

The attorneys general contend that the decision for the massive layoffs lacks justification and is reflective of broader opposition to the Department of Education. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes expressed particular concern, highlighting the detrimental impact on public school students, especially those in rural areas and those with learning disabilities.

Mayes emphasized, “This is part of a deliberate effort to dismantle public education in this country.” He asserted the challenges that rural schools would face, which rely heavily on federal support, and questioned how the Department could meet its legal obligations with a diminished workforce.

Madi Biedermann, a spokesperson for the Department, defended the RIF, stating that it was executed in compliance with regulations and would not directly affect students or families. Core functions such as federal student aid administration and civil rights enforcement would remain intact, according to her. However, an independent analysis from the nonprofit Education Reform Now revealed significant reductions in key offices, including the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Federal Student Aid.

Shortly after the layoffs were announced, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon confirmed to Fox News that these cuts were the initial steps toward eliminating the department entirely. McMahon noted Trump’s ambition to move education oversight back to the states, despite existing state-level funding mechanisms. The Department has become a focal point in ongoing efforts by the administration and influential figures like Elon Musk to reduce federal spending and cut perceived inefficiencies.