A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting a recent effort to close the U.S. Department of Education, blocking the termination of over 1,300 employees and the reassignment of key departmental functions to other federal agencies.

The injunction, issued on May 22, 2025, by a U.S. District Court in Boston, temporarily suspends actions outlined in a recent executive order that directed the closure of the department. The order had included plans to eliminate thousands of positions and shift responsibilities such as federal student loan management and special education oversight to other agencies.