The Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration a significant legal victory by lifting a block that had prohibited mass layoffs at the Department of Education, enabling plans to shift school oversight back to states. The court’s unsigned order temporarily suspends a lower court injunction, allowing the administration to proceed with terminations while litigation continues.

Shortly after the order, the Department of Education sent termination notices to employees previously reinstated by court mandate. Notices to affected staff stated that their termination would take effect August 1. The agency emphasized that the layoffs were part of a structural reorganization, not performance-based.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a strong dissent, joined by the Court’s liberal justices, condemning the decision as a threat to separation of powers. She argued the majority was either ignoring or misunderstanding the constitutional limits on executive authority to dismantle a federal agency.

Earlier rulings had blocked the Trump-era layoffs. A federal judge, Myong Joun, had ordered the reinstatement of nearly 1,400 employees, stating that the cuts would cripple the Education Department and exceed executive authority. That ruling was subsequently upheld by an appellate court before being paused by the Supreme Court.

President Trump celebrated the decision as a “major victory” for parents and students, saying it would allow administration officials—led by Secretary Linda McMahon—to begin dismantling federal oversight in favor of local control. McMahon echoed the move as a shift toward greater efficiency and accountability in education.

The legal battle is far from over. Lower courts will continue to consider the merits of the policy and whether the executive branch exceeded its authority. Observers see this confrontation as a pivotal test of how far presidents can restructure federal agencies without congressional approval.