The Supreme Court granted the Trump administration a major legal win by lifting a lower court block on mass layoffs at the Department of Education. The unsigned order allows the administration to move forward with dismissing employees and shifting school oversight to states while litigation continues.

Termination notices were sent immediately, effective August 1. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by liberal justices, dissented sharply, warning that the decision undermines the separation of powers. A federal judge had previously reinstated 1,400 workers, ruling the cuts unconstitutional, but that decision is now paused. President Trump hailed the ruling as a “major victory” for parents and local control, while legal experts say the case could define limits on presidential authority to restructure federal agencies.