The Trump administration just notched a significant legal triumph in a Maryland federal court, paving the way for deep cuts at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a vital data hub within the Department of Education, even as a massive military parade looms on the horizon.
The Daily Mail reported that this victory, paired with plans for a grand display of national strength in Washington, D.C., to mark President Trump’s 79th birthday, encapsulates a broader agenda of slashing federal bureaucracy while showcasing military might.
Let’s rewind to February, when Education Secretary Linda McMahon, during her confirmation hearing, boldly endorsed Trump’s vision to eliminate the Department of Education, promising to collaborate with Congress on this audacious goal.
Fast forward to April, when two groups of education researchers filed a lawsuit against the government, claiming the Department of Education axed 90% of IES staff, scrapped key research contracts, and put decades of critical school data at risk.
They demanded the return of laid-off workers, restoration of contracts, and protection of invaluable information. But their pleas hit a brick wall in court.
Judge Stephanie Gallagher, in a detailed 13-page opinion, denied their request for immediate relief, arguing the case was too vague and lacked concrete proof of direct harm. “The record in this case underscores that it is poorly suited for preliminary relief,” she wrote. Sounds like a polite way of saying, “Come back with something solid!”
Yet, even Judge Gallagher admitted the downsizing at IES might have gone overboard, noting, “IES is not doing several tasks Congress requires of it.” That’s a diplomatic nudge that this agency, tasked with analyzing American education data, could be crippled by these cuts.
She also hinted that the slashing “has likely gone too far in downsizing.” If even the judge is raising eyebrows, shouldn’t we all be asking if this is reform or just wreckage?
With a deadline set for June 19, 2025, to map out the next legal steps, this battle is far from over. But for now, the Trump administration has the upper hand in its quest to trim federal fat.
Meanwhile, as this courtroom drama unfolds, Washington, D.C., gears up for a spectacular military parade on Saturday, coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday. This event, billed as a celebration of national power, will feature 6,700 troops, 150 vehicles, and 50 aircraft—the largest such display since the 1991 Gulf War victory march.
Trump himself will take center stage, delivering remarks, receiving a folded flag from a parachutist, and leading enlistment ceremonies along Constitution Avenue.
“OUR GREAT MILITARY PARADE IS ON, RAIN OR SHINE,” he declared on Truth Social, brushing off potential weather disruptions like lightning that could delay flyovers. A little rain won’t dampen this display of resolve, though one might wonder if the budget for pomp matches the cuts to education.
Speaking of budgets, a recent report exposed the Department of Education shelling out $7 million monthly on employees who aren’t even working, thanks to a deferred resignation program. That’s over $21 million in just three months for idle staff, per calculations by the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252.
Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, didn’t mince words, calling it a “slap in the face to taxpayers.” When hardworking Americans are footing the bill for federal workers to sit at home until September 2025, it’s hard not to see her point.