Illinois Attorney General joins lawsuit to stop closure of US Dept. of Education

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is fighting the Trump administration’s quest to end the U.S. Department of Education.

On Monday, 21 attorneys general filed preliminary injunctions to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education.

This is after a different lawsuit to prevent firing eliminating half of the Department of Education’s law filed earlier this month.

The attorneys general said the effects of closing the Department of Education have already been felt by all states.

“States, including Illinois, are already feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education,” Raoul said.

The lawsuit argues that the Trump’s administration’s gutting of the agency is unconstitutional, as cutting the department can only be done with an Act of Congress. The mass layoffs also violate the Administrative Procedures Act, the lawsuit argues.

So far, President Trump announced that student loan management and special education services will be transferred to a different department. The announced closure has also led to delays with school funding and the shuttering of many Office of Civil Rights locations.

“Enrollment deadlines for Illinois’ public community colleges and universities approach in a few short weeks, and the turmoil caused by the administration’s actions jeopardizes the futures of tens of thousands of Illinois students,” the attorney general added. “The department also plays a crucial role in protecting K-12 education for all Americans — from ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to classrooms, to protecting students from discrimination and harassment. The Trump administration’s actions are unlawful, unconstitutional and severely harm students who have the most need for the Department of Education’s programs and services.”