In a regrettable development that jeopardizes every child’s entitlement to a quality public education, the Supreme Court issued a ruling several weeks ago permitting President Donald Trump to proceed with his initiative to reduce the Department of Education by dismissing nearly half of its staff.
As a parent with two children in public schools and a product of public education myself, this news was profoundly unsettling. Without providing any rationale, the Supreme Court cleared the path for the Trump Administration to weaken a cabinet agency, established by Congress, which is responsible for upholding the federal government’s commitment to supporting public education. Be assured, this Administration will exert every effort to impair our nation’s schools—by cutting essential resources, support systems, programs, and accountability frameworks vital for ensuring every student has equitable access and can fulfill their potential.
However, state attorneys general possess the authority to resist. While this specific legal case presented a significant setback, it represents only one engagement in our ongoing struggle to safeguard our children and our future. With the legal framework supporting us, we are securing considerably more victories than defeats. The courts have largely affirmed that in America, we elect a president, not a monarch, and therefore, he lacks the unilateral authority to override Congress’s power over public funds.
This is why my fellow Democratic attorneys general and I are initiating legal proceedings. And we have no intention of easing our efforts.
In July, I co-led a coalition comprising all 23 Democratic attorneys general and the governors of Pennsylvania and Kentucky in challenging the Trump Administration for freezing almost $7 billion in education funding just before the commencement of the new school year. This funding enables schools to provide after-school programs and extracurricular activities, assists students in meeting educational standards, supports English language learners, and much more. Annually, these funds have been released to states on July 1; this year, however, was an exception. On the evening of June 30, merely one night before they anticipated receiving their federal funding, school districts received a three-sentence email informing them that the congressionally mandated funds were being withheld for the Administration to determine if they align with the President’s “priorities.”
Under pressure from our lawsuit, the Department of Education reversed course and released billions of these crucial funds, which it had no legal justification to withhold in the first place. Consequently, school districts nationwide will now receive the federal funds they had planned on to address an increasingly complex array of student needs. Nonetheless, harm was still inflicted. The disruption, chaos, and confusion this freeze caused for our school districts, which scrambled to find ways to compensate for the funding shortfalls, cannot be undone. Yet, our lawsuit conveyed a clear message: this Administration will not be granted free reign to undermine our rule of law.
Securing the release of these vital education funds is not our only triumph. When the Trump Administration attempted to withdraw hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for programs addressing the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 students, attorneys general filed suit, and a federal judge ruled that the Trump Administration’s actions violated the law. When the Department of Education made another attempt to withhold funding, we returned to court and requested another injunction. The courts once again ruled in our favor.
Like numerous others, I would not be in my current position without the steadfast support of my educators and high-quality public schools. I am proud to be the first in my family to graduate from college and law school, a journey significantly facilitated by a supportive school system. Extracurricular activities and distinctive learning opportunities, many of which were made possible by federal education funds, empowered me to discover my passions, develop essential skills, and envision a future I could not 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 relentlessly contend to safeguard our residents from a federal Administration that seeks to eliminate the very opportunities that shaped me into the woman, mother, lawyer, and leader I am today.
An excellent public education does not spontaneously occur. It is the outcome of a comprehensive network of supports that includes both federal and local funding, along with the enforcement of laws that guarantee equity and accessibility for all students, regardless of their background. Education holds the promise of being one of our country’s most significant equalizers. It prepares our nation’s children to have every opportunity to achieve their full potential. It also contributes to nurturing a healthy democracy, enabling children to become informed and responsible citizens.
While the recent Supreme Court ruling represents a challenge, it is by no means the culmination of our struggle. Our resolve as attorneys general remains unwavering. As I write this, my office has initiated 32 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. We have secured favorable court orders and substantial relief in nearly all of them. Our judicial system is a potent instrument—a crucial check on executive power and a defender of the rule of law. A democracy’s strength is directly proportional to the willingness of its people and institutions to protect it—and currently, many are rising to meet this imperative. We cannot afford to fail. The well-being of our children and the future of our nation are at stake.