Filed Date: June 30, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Several lawsuits have been brought challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. This case is one; the others can be found here.
This suit was brought to challenge the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to discontinue mental health funding to elementary and secondary schools created by Congress in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting (the “Non-Continuation Decision”). On June 30, 2025, several states (Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Department of Education and its Secretary. The case was assigned to Judge Kymberly K. Evanson.
Around April 29, 2025, the Department notified Plaintiffs that it would discontinue its Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant Program (MHSP) and its School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program (SBMH) for schools within their jurisdictions because the grants conflicted with the Trump Administration’s priorities of “merit, fairness, and excellence in education.” Plaintiffs challenged the Non-Continuation Decision, alleging that the Department violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Spending Clause, Separation of Powers, and acted ultra vires by discontinuing the grants not in accordance with established guidelines and criteria to do so. They sought injunctive relief barring implementation of the Non-Continuation Decision and “requiring the Department to make a new continuation award decision prior to the next budget period without considering performance issues–if any–caused by the Department’s Non-Continuation Decision and its disruptive effects”; declaratory relief under the Declaratory Judgment Act; and attorneys’ costs and fees.
On July 8, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, requesting the court “issue an order rescinding the unlawful Non-Continuation Decision and enjoining Defendants from discontinuing Program grants based on new priorities.” After briefing and a hearing on the motion for preliminary injunction, but before the court ruled on the motion, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim on September 5, 2025. They argued that because the State-Plaintiffs themselves were not themselves the recipients of the grants, they lacked standing and legal authority to bring this suit. Further, because the suit involved contractual rights with the federal government, they argued the proper venue for the suit was the U.S. Court of Federal Claims under the Tucker Act.
The Court held oral arguments on Defendants’ motion to dismiss for October 9, 2025, and denied Defendants’ motion to stay the hearing in light of the government shutdown because of the Defendants’ “boilerplate request” and the “time-sensitive” relief request by the Plaintiffs. 2025 WL 2841595.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madena Mustafa (10/24/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70679500/parties/state-of-washington-v-united-states-department-of-education/
Aaronson, Jennifer Kate (Washington)
Adams, Crystal (Washington)
Alexander, Cynthia L. (Washington)
Allen, Aletheia (Washington)
Ammirati, Andrew M. (Washington)
Aaronson, Jennifer Kate (Washington)
Alexander, Cynthia L. (Washington)
Ammirati, Andrew M. (Washington)
Boergers, Kathleen (Washington)
Chung, Jennifer Katherine (Washington)
Colbert, Frances None (Washington)
Dirks, Katherine Brady (Washington)
Drezner, Michael Leon (Washington)
FORSTER, SARAH A. (Washington)
Kassab, Vanessa L. (Washington)
Marcus, Lawrence M. (Washington)
Milton, Katherine (Washington)
Stern, Heidi Parry (Washington)
Strubel, Aleeza M. (Washington)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70679500/state-of-washington-v-united-states-department-of-education/
Last updated Oct. 29, 2025, 6:14 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 30, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Department of Educarion, Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Spending/Appropriations Clauses
Other Dockets:
Western District of Washington 2:25-cv-01228
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: