A major federal effort to close the U.S. Department of Education has been temporarily blocked by a court ruling. The administration’s executive order aimed to shut down the department, eliminate over 1,300 jobs, and shift its core duties—like managing student loans, enforcing civil rights, and overseeing special education—to other agencies.

Opponents, including states and civil rights groups, argued that only Congress can dismantle a federal department, not the president alone. On May 22, 2025, a federal court issued an injunction stopping the closure, ruling that the executive branch exceeded its authority.

The case highlights deep concerns about chaos for millions of students, loan borrowers, and vulnerable populations if the plan proceeds. It raises key questions about executive power limits and the future of federal education policy.

For now, the Department remains intact, but a legal battle is ongoing. This fight could reshape how federal agencies are governed and who holds the power to change them—impacting education and government for years to come.