Overview

• The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift Judge Myong Joun’s injunction, requiring the reinstatement of over 1,300 laid-off Education Department employees.
• Judge Joun ruled the administration’s March plan to cut agency staff by half amounted to an unlawful shutdown without congressional approval.
• The appeals panel noted the administration failed to show how massive layoffs would allow the department to continue managing federal student aid and enforcing civil rights laws.
• Affected employees remain on administrative leave with full pay and benefits through June 9 under the court order.
• The Justice Department will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially extending the dispute over the limits of executive authority in managing federal agencies.