Federal Judge Orders ED to Re-Hire Workers Subject to RIF

May 23, 2025

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Thursday ordering the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to reinstate employees who were terminated under the March 11th reduction in force (RIF). The order also prohibits the administration from implementing the March 20th Executive Order to dismantle ED. The judge ordered ED to return the agency to “status quo” by reinstating all employees terminated under the March 11th RIF. ED is required to provide notice to “to all [its] officers, agents, servants, employees, attorneys, and anyone acting in concert with them” within 24 hours of the order and file a status report within 72 hours outlining the actions taken to comply with the order. The court also requires weekly status updates from ED until the agency has been returned to the status quo prior to the President’s inauguration. ED appealed the order Thursday afternoon.