US District Judge Myong Joun issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration's decision to cut funding for two education programs, citing concerns that states would be unable to access certain federal funds due to staff shortages.
The court's decision allows eight Democratic-led states, including California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, to continue operating the programs with their own money for now. Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders stated that since the announcement of mass layoffs, the state has been unable to access certain federal funds due to staff shortages in the Office of State and Grantee Relations.
The Department of Education administers programs like Title I funding for low-performing schools, which affect over 225,000 Illinois students in the 2023-24 academic year. The administration's decision to cut these programs was likely aimed at eliminating diversity and inclusion initiatives, which have been a target of conservative critics.