A powerful coalition of educators, unions, school districts, and disability-rights advocates—including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—is taking the federal government to court to stop its latest attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
Last week, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced a sweeping plan to shift major education programs—including $28 billion for K–12 schools and $3 billion for higher education—to the Department of Labor and several other agencies. These moves would scatter essential services across the federal government, creating confusion for students, families, and school employees who rely on consistent support and oversight.
The coalition’s lawsuit argues these changes are illegal, violating the federal appropriations law that requires the Department of Education to administer the programs Congress funds. The suit also points to months of “unpredictable, chaotic, and unprofessional” actions from the agency under Secretary McMahon.
SEIU, along with AFT, AFSCME, AAUP, and school districts in Massachusetts, filed the original lawsuit earlier this year. They are represented by Democracy Forward, a nonprofit legal organization. The Arc of the United States has also joined the case.
While the federal government claims it has authority under the Economy Act, even Republican education leaders warn the changes will do the opposite of empowering states. Former U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, who served from 2016-2019 under President George W. Bush, noted the plan would make things “much more complicated for states” and distract from the real needs of students.
This lawsuit is a critical defense of public education, federal civil rights protections, and the millions of students and school employees who depend on stable, accountable leadership. SEIU and our partners are standing together to ensure that the federal government cannot dismantle public education by shifting programs out of sight and out of reach.