WORCESTER—Worcester’s city and school officials are applauding a federal court ruling that blocks the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education—a move that would have jeopardized more than $50 million in annual federal funding for Worcester Public Schools.
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun issued a preliminary injunction Thursday in Boston, halting what he called a de facto “illegal shutdown” of the department. The ruling came in response to two consolidated lawsuits, including one brought by school districts in Somerville and Easthampton, the American Federation of Teachers, and advocacy group Democracy Forward. Worcester Public Schools served as a declarant in the case, providing testimony about the local impact of the proposed elimination.
“I am grateful to Judge Joun for recognizing the impact the Department of Education has and will continue to have for the nation’s children,” said Superintendent Rachel H. Monárrez in a statement Thursday. “Public education is a cornerstone of our democracy. The DOE serves to protect children, provide guidance to states, and offers critical resources to school districts.”
Mayor Joseph Petty, who also chairs the Worcester School Committee, called the ruling “a win for the sanctity of the American education system.” He added, “I hope this move is the first of many stops to the dismantling of American systems we hold dear.”
The Trump administration’s “Agenda47” proposal called for closing the Department of Education entirely, shifting responsibilities to states and other federal agencies. In Worcester, officials warned the consequences could be dire: $17 million for school meal programs and $27 million in Title I and special education funding were at risk, in addition to support for teacher training, technical education, and services for students with disabilities.
In March, the federal government laid off or offered buyouts to nearly half of the DOE workforce. According to the Associated Press, in his ruling, Judge Joun said the mass terminations painted a “stark picture of the irreparable harm” that would result—particularly for vulnerable student populations. “The idea that Defendants’ actions are merely a ‘reorganization’ is plainly not true.”
The Worcester School Committee had previously voted 6–2 in executive session to join the legal fight. Monárrez and Petty were among several city leaders to stress the broader implications of the attempted shutdown, from civil rights protections to oversight of learning environments.
Worcester’s involvement in the suit marked a continuation of growing advocacy efforts by municipalities to push back against federal education policy changes. Last month, the city also lost $1.45 million in emergency federal education funds after the Trump administration abruptly ended a program created under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Officials say the fight isn’t over—but Thursday’s ruling may buy time for districts across the country to regroup, recalibrate, and, in Worcester’s case, continue building.
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