A federal judge blocks Trump’s $600m education cuts as teacher training programs collapse

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in teacher training funds, after ruling that the move was already destabilising vital education programs.

Judge Myong Joun granted a temporary restraining order on Tuesday, siding with eight states that argued the cuts were politically motivated and targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The states warned that the funding freeze was forcing teacher training programs to shut down and staff to be laid off.

Trump, a Republican, has repeatedly stated his desire to dismantle the Education Department. His administration has already begun scrapping contracts it considers “woke” and unnecessary. The latest cuts aimed to terminate two federal grant programs—the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development—without prior notice in February. These initiatives had provided more than $600 million in funding, supporting the training of teachers in high-demand fields such as maths, science, and special education.

The states argued that these programs were instrumental in improving teacher retention rates, ensuring that educators remained in the profession beyond five years. Judge Joun, an appointee of President Joe Biden, found that the administration violated administrative law by failing to provide a clear explanation for the abrupt cancellations. He warned that public schools, universities, and education professionals faced severe disruption if the cuts were allowed to proceed.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell welcomed the ruling, calling it “a victory for our students, teachers, and school districts” and stressing that the cuts threatened vulnerable students with special needs.

During Monday’s court hearing, Laura Faer, representing California, described the situation as urgent, telling the court that “as we speak, our programs across the state are facing the possibility of closure, termination.”

The lawsuit was filed by California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Wisconsin. The states argued that the Education Department overstepped its authority by cancelling already allocated grants and altering funding criteria midway through the process.

Adelaide Pagano, representing Massachusetts, stated that the department’s letters to grantees failed to provide a reasonable explanation for the cancellations, making the decision legally questionable.

Government attorney Michael Fitzgerald defended the administration’s actions, insisting that the Education Department had the authority to revoke funding if it determined that programs were violating federal anti-discrimination laws or no longer aligned with policy priorities. He also argued that there was no immediate harm, claiming grantees could still recover their funds if they won their case.

Despite the ruling, the Trump administration has already appealed the decision to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, setting the stage for a legal showdown over the future of federal education funding. While the judge’s order provides temporary relief, uncertainty remains as schools, educators, and state officials brace for the next legal battle.