US supreme court allows Trump to resume gutting education department

Justices lift federal judge’s order that reinstated nearly 1,400 workers affected by mass layoffs in win for president

The US supreme court on Monday cleared the way for Donald Trump’s administration to resume dismantling the Department of Education as part of his bid to shrink the federal government’s role in education in favor of more control by the states.

In the latest high court win for the president, the justices lifted a federal judge’s order that had reinstated nearly 1,400 workers affected by mass layoffs at the department and blocked the administration from transferring key functions to other federal agencies. A legal challenge is continuing to play out in lower courts.

The court’s action came in a brief, unsigned order. Its three liberal justices dissented.