&w=3840&q=100)
US Supreme Court allows Trump's education dept mass layoffs amid school funding crisis
The Supreme Court has allowed President Trump to go ahead with mass layoffs at the US Education Department, putting nearly 1,400 employees out of work. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court's conservative majority overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the firings and ordered the workers reinstated.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the ruling as a 'significant win,' saying it would help carry out Trump's executive order to shut down the department 'as far as the law allows.'
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The layoffs affect about one-third of the department's staff and are part of Trump's broader effort to reduce the size of the federal government and shift education responsibilities back to the states.
In a strong dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, warned the decision could cause a constitutional crisis. She accused the majority of allowing 'lawlessness' and argued that Trump's plan 'usurps Congress's power' by effectively dismantling an agency created by Congress.
Justice Sotomayor warns of serious harm from cuts
Justice Sotomayor cautioned that the cuts would cause 'untold harm,' weakening civil rights enforcement, support for students with disabilities, and anti-discrimination programs.
Her dissent pointed to Trump's earlier promise to eliminate the department, suggesting the administration intended to 'break the law.'
Schools fear funding gaps and disruptions
Twenty-one Democratic-led states and teachers' unions have sued, arguing the layoffs would cripple essential services. They raised concerns about threats to $1.6 trillion in student loans, special education, and funding for low-income schools—responsibilities required by Congress.
Massachusetts school districts warned of lasting damage, including delays in financial aid that could trigger teacher layoffs.
Employees, who have been on paid leave since March, now face losing their jobs. A union official said, 'This guts our ability to protect students.'
Push for a smaller federal government gains speed
The ruling comes after the Supreme Court recently allowed Trump's plan to reduce the federal workforce, moving forward with his goal to 'dismantle the administrative state.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
40 minutes ago
- NDTV
Syria Says Withdrawing Troops After Agreeing To Ceasefire In Sweida
Damascus: Syria announced it had begun withdrawing its army from Druze-majority Sweida city on Wednesday night after agreeing to a new ceasefire that it said would bring a complete halt to its military operations there. A previous truce announced on Tuesday appeared to have little effect on the ground in the southern region, where days of violence have left more than 300 dead, according to a monitor. According to the text of the new ceasefire agreement, published by the interior ministry, there will be a "total and immediate halt to all military operations", as well as the formation of a committee comprising government officials and Druze spiritual leaders to supervise its implementation. The defence ministry later said it had "begun withdrawing from the city of Sweida in implementation of the terms of the adopted agreement after the end of the sweep of the city for outlaw groups". The ministry's statement made no mention of the withdrawal of any other government security forces deployed to the city. In a video carried by state television, Sheikh Youssef Jarboua, one of Syria's three main Druze spiritual leaders, read out the 10 points of the agreement, which also included "the full integration of the province" of Sweida into the Syrian state. Until now, Druze areas have been controlled by fighters from the minority community. After Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after 14 years of civil war, some Druze fighters said they were ready to integrate into the new security forces. The text of the ceasefire indicates that no harm will come to civilians or their property, after witnesses and a monitor reported abuses in recent days including summary executions and looting on the part of government forces and their allies. It also provides for "the release of detainees" and inquiries into the fate of the missing. Another influential Druze chief, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, rejected the new agreement after it was announced. "There cannot be an accord or negotiations with these armed groups that call themselves a government," he said in a statement. Earlier on Wednesday, Hijri had appealed to US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "and all those who have influence in the world" to "save Sweida". The Men of Dignity movement, one of the two largest Druze armed groups in the area, said Wednesday that "any agreement that does not include the full withdrawal of the invading forces... will be totally unacceptable". In a statement on Facebook, the group added it would keep fighting unless "the invaders withdraw from all the villages and towns that they have desecrated". The clashes in the south began on Sunday between the Druze and Bedouin tribes, who have a long-running feud, sparking an intervention by government forces who deployed in Sweida city. Witnesses reported that upon entering the city, the government forces joined with the Bedouin in attacking Druze fighters and civilians.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
India-US Trade Deal: Aug 1 Deadline Nears... Will The Deal Be Sealed In Time? Piyush Goyal Shares Major Update
New Delhi: A small group of Indian trade negotiators has landed in Washington this week. Their task is urgent. They must try, once again, to untangle the long-pending India-U.S. trade deal that has seen too many rounds, too many delays and now stares down a hard deadline, August 1. The clock is ticking. U.S. President Donald Trump, now in his second term at the White House, has already fired off tariff letters to a long list of countries. Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand and Cambodia, each has received a note – explaining in clear terms why new tariffs are coming. India has not received one. That is only because New Delhi and Washington are still talking. But if there is no deal before the deadline, the letter could arrive. Where Are The Talks Stuck? Washington wants India to lower its tariffs on American agricultural and dairy goods. Milk, wheat, poultry and genetically modified soy, all are on the table. New Delhi, however, is not moving. India's position has been clear. Its farm sector, dairy cooperatives, food security architecture, they cannot take a hit. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said any agreement must benefit both sides. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has echoed that line. No pressure. No compromise on farmers. No backdoor trade-offs. So far, India has kept these sectors out of most trade deals, including with the United Kingdom and Australia. The same applies here. Indian Team Lands in Washington Led by Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, the Indian delegation is back in the U.S. capital, hoping to break the deadlock. The goal is to find a formula, something that can be signed off before Trump's August 1 deadline kicks in and the United States begins slapping tariffs across the board. Goyal says talks are moving 'at speed'. Speaking to reporters, he confirmed that the Indian side is focused on crafting an agreement that works for both countries. There is still time. Barely two weeks. But the message is that the window will not stay open for long. Trump's Tariff Playbook Trump is playing hardball again. Twenty-five countries have already been hit with his new tariff regime. Canada was slapped with 35 percent. Others have seen higher. But in India's case, the U.S. president has dropped a telling hint. While speaking about his global tariff strategy, he said that 'key trading partners' may see lower tariffs, around 15 to 20 percent. And not every country will get a formal letter. It is a signal that if India clinches the deal, it may escape the harshest penalties. Why India Won't Budge On Dairy & Agriculture Behind India's tough stance lies a deeper concern. According to a recent report from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), any wide-scale entry of subsidised U.S. dairy or poultry goods could damage India's rural economy. Not only small farmers but food security itself could be hit. The report warns against opening the gates to American grain or genetically modified soybeans. Once these products enter Indian markets, they could displace local produce and crush pricing structures. This is not only about trade margins, this is about the long-term sustainability of Indian agriculture. Can A Deal Still Happen? If all goes well in Washington, negotiators may stitch together a limited package. It will not be a full-blown foreign trade agreement (FTA). But it could be enough to avoid Trump's tariff stick. Enough to show progress. Enough to keep the trade lanes open. A senior official said that a breakthrough is still possible before August 1. But it depends on what each side is willing to give, and what each insists on keeping off the table. Until then, all eyes remain on the U.S. capital.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Calcutta High Court dismisses teachers' petitions against new SSC recruitment rules
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court has dismissed all the petitions regarding the School Service Commission (SSC)'s new recruitment notification where 'untainted' teachers who lost their jobs after the Supreme Court ruling had petitioned against many of the subject seats being reduced, and the eligibility criteria of the 2025 exams being different from 2016 making the process harder for older candidates. The division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De delivered the judgement on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). They said that they will not interfere in the new notification issued by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) new recruitment notification. A week back, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya of Calcutta High Court had only said that the government must take out the 'tainted' candidates out of the new examination; this judgement was upheld at the division bench ruling on Wednesday. Mehboob Mondal, a representative of the 'Joggya Sikkhak Sikkhika Adhikar Mancha' (Deserving Teachers' Rights Forum) told The Hindu that the new rules of the 2025 recruitment is not allowing special candidates to fill up forms, even candidates with 40-45% marks are barred, but all of them had cracked the exams in 2016. This has left them in the lurch, even though they have served in schools as untainted teachers for over seven years. He also added that some subjects like Chemistry or Nepali language have no seats in 2025 exams, but the same teachers got jobs in 2016, now they have no option but to skip the exams and lose their jobs. 'We had petitioned that we should not have to compete with fresh candidates because we had already passed the exam. The 2016 panel should have been separately recruited. We are losing all faith in the judiciary because they failed us and we are being punished and losing jobs because of the government's corruption,' Habibullah, a representative of JSSAM said. He also shared doubts that the same WBSSC body, which was caught in a corrupt recruitment process by the Supreme Court, has been directed to conduct the rehiring process. 'What is the guarantee that they will not steal our jobs again? Finding the tainted candidates cannot be our responsibility. It was either the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) responsibility or the government's responsibility, why are we being criminalised for their lacking?' Mr Habibullah added. Previously, the JSSAM representatives had said that they were against filling out the new recruitment form because they are 'untainted' candidates, the last date for which is July 21. They wanted a review petition at the Supreme Court before the last date, but it has not yet been listed. According to the representatives, this has led to a section of the 'untainted' teachers filling up the new recruitment form to stay on the safe side, so they have a shot at getting back to their old jobs. After the verdict was announced, state lawyer and Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee called it a victory for the state. 'The court has recognized the state's rights. The Supreme Court has said that the recruitment process has to be started according to the 2016 recruitment process. The court did not accept the unreasonable request. We also have to consider how many people have come in the last nine years,' Mr Banerjee added. According to the last WBSSC notification for the 2025 recruitment, the experienced teachers will get a 10 marks advantage. This is the only leeway that the 2016 panel of teachers will get in the fresh hiring process. The petitions were in response to the Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the cancellation of approximately 26,000 appointments made during the 2016 recruitment process conducted by the WBSSC, citing irregularities. On April 17, the top court allowed 'untainted' candidates to continue in service until December 31, or until a fresh selection process is completed.
