Mass. teachers decry effects of local DOE closures and layoffs as AG Campbell files lawsuit

Education

The suit accuses Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education, and President Donald Trump of an “unlawful” attempt to dismantle the department. 

The Massachusetts Teachers Association is condemning local Department of Education closures as a “cruel attack on students, families, and communities.”

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education announced it is laying off half of its workforce as part of its “final mission” and terminating leases on buildings, including in Boston. Nearly 2,000 employees will be let go due to the reduction. 

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell co-led a coalition of attorneys general that filed a lawsuit on Thursday against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education, and President Donald Trump over their “unlawful” attempt to dismantle the department. 

Through the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, the coalition seeks a court order to stop the administration’s dismantling of the DOE by drastically cutting its workforce and programs. 

“Neither President Trump nor his Secretary have the power to demolish a congressionally-created department,” said Campbell in a statement. “As Attorney General but most importantly as a mom, I will continue to hold this Administration accountable for illegal actions that harm our residents and economy.” 

In a statement, the MTA said the plan to dismantle the DOE threatens the critical funding that supports students in poor communities and with disabilities. 

The DOE does not set curriculum or mandate how schools operate. Massachusetts public schools receive most of their guidance from the state and have autonomy. 

However, the MTA said the federal department provides Massachusetts more than $515 million to support preschoolers and families through 12th grade. The money goes to special education services and school meals. The MTA says cutting positions supported by federal funds will likely increase class sizes for all students.

The MTA says the department is also responsible for grants and loans, such as the Pell Grant, which encourages low- and middle-income students to attend college. 

The Healey administration estimates Massachusetts could lose up to $2 billion in federal education funds if officials dismantle the DOE. The loss would result in mass layoffs and stagnate state economic activity and social mobility, according to Healey’s office. 

The MTA says the department has “made clear that the intent is to undermine public education through cuts and through privatization — taking money from public schools and giving it to private schools.”

Potential cuts to federal support for Medicaid will also threaten child services. Funding turmoil is already underway at public colleges and universities. 

“The Trump administration is revealing its contempt for public education, and by extension its contempt for families and communities,” the statement said. 

Since more than 90% of Massachusetts students attend public schools, the MTA says it is “crucial that we maintain a strong, statewide public school system.”

The MTA says it is an “injustice” to disrupt the revenue source that helps support the state’s most vulnerable students and jeopardize federal grants that help tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents pay for college.

The group added, “We cannot allow this to happen.”