Massachusetts teachers group sues Trump administration over dismantling of DOE

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Massachusetts chapter has sued the Trump administration over its executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.

According to the group, it’s the first lawsuit in regards to that order.

The AFT Massachusetts lawsuit directly challenges the president’s legal authority to shutter a department with out congressional approval.

The federation was joined by the Somerville and East Hampton school districts, and other teacher unions for the lawsuit.

AFT Massachusetts held a Zoom meeting last week when the executive order was issued, highlighting how dangerous it felt the order was.

The AFT Massachusetts lawsuit is aiming for “declaratory and injunctive relief ” from both the firings of half of the department’s staff, and the order to abolish the department itself.