Attorney General Anne Lopez, representing a coalition of 21 attorneys general, has initiated legal action against the Trump administration. The lawsuit aims to halt plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, which include firing approximately half of its workforce. This move is part of an effort described by the administration as a "total shutdown" of the department.
Attorney General Lopez emphasized the importance of maintaining the department's role in supporting students across various educational levels in Hawaiʻi. She stated, “Neither a president nor his administration can abolish or render useless a department of the United States on a whim. Students in Hawaiʻi—from K-12 to the University of Hawaiʻi—rely upon the U.S. Department of Education, its programs and its public servants because they are supported by federal laws passed by Congress.”
Hawaiʻi Department of Education Superintendent Keith T. Hayashi expressed concerns about the impact on essential services such as special education and school meal programs, noting that these programs rely on federal funding. He added, “Any effort to dismantle this agency threatens not only these vital programs but also the stability of our entire public education system.”
University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel echoed these concerns, highlighting potential disruptions within their university system due to proposed employee reductions. She noted that more than 270 positions at UH are funded through U.S. Department of Education resources.
Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes and Special Assistant Dave Day stressed their commitment to defending educational opportunities for future generations: “We are all molded by the education we receive as children and young adults."
The U.S. Department of Education serves nearly 18,200 school districts and over 50 million K-12 students nationwide. It also supports more than 12 million postsecondary students annually, providing critical resources particularly for students with disabilities and those from low-income families.
The lawsuit contends that dismantling the department will severely impact states like Hawaiʻi by depriving students with special needs of crucial support and gutting civil rights protections against discrimination and sexual assault.
Led by Attorney General Lopez along with attorneys general from California, Massachusetts, and New York, the coalition seeks a court order to prevent what they argue is an illegal and unconstitutional action by the administration. They assert that any such significant changes require congressional approval.
A virtual press conference featuring Attorney General Lopez alongside her counterparts from California, Massachusetts, and New York was held today to discuss this legal challenge.