In a striking 5–4 decision on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s emergency request to cut more than $600 million in federal teacher-training funds, even as a legal challenge led by Democratic states remains unresolved.
Chief Justice John Roberts broke from the court’s conservative bloc to join the three liberal justices in dissent, according to an AP report.
The court’s ruling lifts a prior block imposed by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston, who had found that the cuts were already causing harm to over 100 programs designed to combat the nation’s teacher shortage—particularly in high-need areas like math, science, and special education.
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The cuts target two cornerstone initiatives: the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development programs, which state leaders say have demonstrably boosted teacher retention and long-term success in the profession.
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Judge Joun, appointed by President Biden, issued a temporary restraining order in February in response to a lawsuit spearheaded by California and joined by seven other Democratic-led states. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration’s move was politically motivated, part of a broader campaign to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in public education.
Despite this, the court’s conservative majority justified the decision by noting that states could fund the programs themselves for now, whereas the federal government may not recoup the grants if it prevails in court.
Justice Elena Kagan condemned the majority’s decision, writing in dissent: “Nowhere in its papers does the Government defend the legality of canceling the education grants at issue here.”
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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in a separate dissent, called the emergency framing “beyond puzzling.”
The Supreme Court’s decision marks the first successful emergency appeal by the Trump administration after two previous failed attempts. It also arrives as the administration pursues an aggressive realignment of the Education Department, which Trump has vowed to dismantle entirely. Dozens of federal contracts have already been terminated, with officials labeling them “woke” and wasteful.
On the ground, the consequences are mounting. Boston Public Schools have laid off several full-time employees. California State University has cut support for 24 students and withdrawn financial aid for 50 more. The College of New Jersey has shuttered the remainder of its teacher-residency program.
While the legal battle continues, the ruling sets a consequential precedent—allowing ideological policy shifts to override long-standing federal education initiatives without public notice or transparent justification.
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