Scott Statement on SCOTUS Greenlighting the Mass Firing of Education Department Employees

As originally released by the Committee on Education & Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court granted the Trump Administration’s request to temporarily pause an order by a federal judge in Massachusetts that would require the Department of Education to reinstate nearly 1,400 employees.

“Once again, this Supreme Court has, without explanation, undermined our Constitution and the separation of powers.  As Justice Sotomayor rightly points out, ‘when the Executive publicly announces its intent to break the law, and then executes on that promise, it is the Judiciary’s duty to check that lawlessness, not expedite it.’

“Beyond the legal implications, the Supreme Court has now given the green light to the Trump Administration’s efforts to fire over a third of the staff at the Department of Education, beginning the dismantling of the agency.  In practical terms, this impacts students and borrowers the most.

“We have already seen the beginning of delays, as the Trump Administration has failed to manage the backlog of over 2 million applications to change Income Driven Repayment plans, leaving many borrowers with payments they cannot afford.  And there have been multiple news reports that students and families pursuing open cases with the Office of Civil Rights have lost contact with the office entirely.

“Congress cannot allow these attacks to go unanswered, and we must demand accountability from this Administration for its clear overreach.”

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