Student Defense Investigating Trump Administration’s Plan to Shut Down the Department of Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2025
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Student Defense Investigating Trump Administration’s Plan to Shut Down the Department of Education
Three New FOIA Lawsuits Filed Over Trump Transition Plans and Communications
Washington, D.C. — Student Defense today filed three lawsuits as part of an investigation into the Trump Administration’s efforts to illegally dismantle the United States Department of Education through executive action.
Student Defense previously submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking the release of documents and communications between the Department and the Trump-Vance transition and landing teams in order to shed light on the Administration’s unconstitutional plan to unilaterally shut down key offices, functions, and operations of the Department. Student Defense also sought the release of communications between the Department and Linda McMahon following Trump’s announcement that she would be his nominee for Secretary. To date, the Department has failed to comply with its legal obligations under FOIA. The complaints filed today seek to compel them to do so.
“Dismantling or decimating the Department of Education will have profound consequences for students, families, and the economy as a whole. Americans deserve to know who is making these decisions and why,” said Student Defense Vice President Alex Elson. “Where did this scheme come from? Have they considered the wide-ranging impacts? We’re looking to get answers to those questions and more.”
The lawsuits target three specific sets of communications:
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Any communications from November 5, 2024 to January 21, 2025 between the Department of Education and the members of the Trump-Vance landing team.
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Any communications between the Department of Education and Linda McMahon, from the time she was nominated to be Secretary (November 19, 2024) and January 24, 2025.
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Any communications between the Department of Education and the members of the Trump-Vance transition team.
These complaints follow a nearly 50 percent reduction of the Department’s workforce and years of campaigning by President Donald Trump to eliminate the Department of Education.