Trump Halted: Courts Block Moves to Dismantle Education Department, Slash Agencies, and Restrict Harvard’s International Students

A series of high-profile legal and administrative halts have hit the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the U.S. government and higher education landscape, with federal judges and oversight agencies intervening to block or scrutinize controversial executive actions.

 

Key Highlights

 

Judge Blocks Trump’s Attempt to Dismantle Education Department:

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Myong Joun issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Trump administration’s plan to downsize and eventually eliminate the Department of Education. The court ordered the immediate reinstatement of employees laid off in a mass firing on March 11, siding with school districts and teachers’ unions who argued that the move was unconstitutional and would cripple essential public services. The judge warned that such layoffs would cause “irreparable harm” to students and educators, particularly the most vulnerable populations.

 

Federal Judge Halts Agency Mass Layoffs and Reorganizations:

In a separate ruling, Senior District Judge Susan Illston temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out mass terminations and major reorganizations across more than a dozen federal agencies. The order, lasting two weeks, came in response to lawsuits from unions and local governments, who argued that the administration was exceeding its authority by bypassing Congress for sweeping government changes. The judge emphasized that large-scale agency overhauls require congressional approval.

 

Trump Administration Halts Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students:

The Department of Homeland Security, under Trump, revoked Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, immediately suspending its capacity to enroll international students. The move, communicated via a letter from Secretary Kristi Noem, is part of a broader push to pressure elite academic institutions to comply with administration policies. Harvard and DHS have yet to comment, and the story is still developing.

 

Watchdog Finds Trump Illegally Withheld Infrastructure Funds:

The Government Accountability Office concluded that the Trump administration violated the law by halting a $5 billion federal infrastructure initiative, including funds for electric vehicle charging stations. The GAO found the administration’s impoundment of funds was unlawful and signaled a potential constitutional showdown over presidential spending powers.

 

Insight

The Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to restructure government, restrict academic autonomy, and control federal spending have encountered significant legal resistance. Federal courts have repeatedly intervened to uphold constitutional checks and balances, ensuring that sweeping executive actions—especially those affecting public services and education—cannot proceed without congressional oversight or due process.

 

Source:

The New York Times

CNN

Reuters

India Today

Times of India

WJLA

Business Today