US judge temporarily halts Trump plan to cut hundreds of millions of
dollars for teacher training
[March 12, 2025]
By MICHAEL CASEY
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston on Tuesday blocked the Trump
administration's plan to cut hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher
training, finding that cuts are already affecting training programs
aimed at addressing a nationwide teacher shortage.
U.S. District Judge Myong Joun sided with the eight states that had
requested a temporary restraining order. The states argued the cuts were
likely driven by efforts from President Donald Trump's administration to
eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Trump, a Republican, has said he wants to dismantle the Education
Department, and his administration has already started overhauling much
of its work, including cutting dozens of contracts it dismissed as
“woke” and wasteful.
The plaintiffs argued the federal Education Department abruptly ended
two programs — the Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective
Educator Development — without notice in February. They said the two
programs provided upwards of $600 million in grants for teacher
preparation programs, often in subject areas, such as math, science and
special education. They said data has shown the programs had led to
increased teacher retention rates and ensured that educators remain in
the profession beyond five years.
Joun, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat, found that
the cancelations violated administrative law by failing to give a clear
explanation and that the states are at risk of lasting harm because
they're already having to cancel teacher training programs and lay
people off.
“The record shows that if I were to deny the TRO, dozens of programs
upon which public schools, public universities, students, teachers, and
faculty rely will be gutted,” he wrote, using the acronym for temporary
restraining order.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell called the order “a
victory for our students, teachers and school districts, restoring funds
to programs designed to address the ongoing teacher shortage in the
Commonwealth, including those serving vulnerable students with special
needs.”
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President Donald Trump waves to the media as he walks on South Lawn
of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP
Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
On Monday, Laura Faer, arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs for
California, told Joun that a temporary restraining order was
urgently needed because the freeze on grants was already leading to
staff being laid off and program being halted.
“The situation is dire right now,” she told the court. “As we speak,
our programs across the state are facing the possibility of closure,
termination.”
California is joined by Massachusetts, New Jersey, Colorado,
Illinois, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin.
Adelaide Pagano, representing Massachusetts, argued the Education
Department lacked the authority to cancel the grants and its move
was not in accordance with the law. The form letters to grantees,
she said, failed to provide a clear and reasonable explanation for
the cancellations and wrongly changed the criteria in the middle of
the grant process, something they could consider for future funding
but not money already allocated.
Michael Fitzgerald, representing the government, insisted the
Education Department was well within its authority to cancel the
grants over the programs suspected of violating federal
anti-discrimination laws and no longer aligning with the
department's priorities. He also argued there was no need for
immediate relief, since grantees could recoup their frozen funds if
they prevail in their lawsuit.
Late Tuesday, the Trump administration appealed the order to the 1st
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington
contributed.
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