Key Points
- A lawsuit was filed against the Trump administration over dismantling the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
- The suit claims the administration exceeded its authority by canceling contracts and eliminating 90% of IES staff.
- Plaintiffs argue this move undermines federally mandated education research essential to education policy and practice.
The Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the main research division of the U.S. Department of Education, faces a new legal challenge.
On Thursday, the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) and the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed a lawsuit alleging unlawful actions against Education Secretary Linda McMahon and the Department of Education.
According to the suit, recent departmental actions have crippled IES, established in 2002 under the bipartisan Education Sciences Reform Act to generate critical education research. The lawsuit argues that the administration exceeded statutory authority by initiating a 90% staff reduction at IES and canceling numerous federally mandated research contracts, actions described by Secretary McMahon as part of the department's "final mission."
Related: What Abolishing The Department Of Education Looks Like
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What Is The Institute of Education Sciences (IES)?
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), established by the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, serves as the primary research, evaluation, and statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Education.
IES conducts research on educational practices from early childhood through postsecondary education, compiling data and providing analysis to support policymakers, educators, students, and families.
Congress created IES specifically to ensure reliable, high-quality information is collected and widely disseminated to improve educational outcomes nationwide. By law, IES manages several key functions, including administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress (often called the Nation’s Report Card), maintaining the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and supporting federally mandated studies that inform education policy across the country.
We use a lot of data from IPEDS for our research here at The College Investor.
Impact On Education Research
The groups filing the lawsuit highlight that IES has historically produced vital research, including studies mandated by Congress like the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often called the "Nation's Report Card."
Recent cancellations halted ongoing studies crucial for shaping education policy, affecting everything from teacher evaluations to student loan data.
Claims Of Executive Overreach
The lawsuit claims Secretary McMahon and the Department of Education have violated several federal statutes by dismantling IES. Many of the requirements of IES are Congressionally mandated, and the executive branch cannot simply eliminate them because they choose to.
Adam Pulver, the lead attorney for Public Citizen, asserted in a statement “Secretary McMahon has no authority to override Congress.”
Among other violations, the lawsuit states that the administration acted "arbitrarily and capriciously," disregarding laws about appropriations and peer-reviewed standards, effectively stopping IES from fulfilling its legal obligations.
What Happens Next
Reliable data provided by IES is critical for understanding the state of the U.S. educational system. Without data and analytics, it's impossible for any politician to know if their actions are improving (or hurting) educational outcomes in the country.
The lawsuit seeks to halt further dismantling of the Department of Education, and is requesting that the court reinstate the canceled contracts and staff, and preserve the critical infrastructure necessary for IES to continue its federally mandated research and reporting duties.
There are no hearing dates set yet.
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Editor: Colin Graves
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