OLYMPIA — Washington state joined a lawsuit with 20 other states to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said that Trump’s move is illegal and would destroy a critical federal agency that ensures tens of millions of students receive a quality education and critical resources.

On March 11, the Trump administration announced the department would fire approximately 50% of its workforce as part of its goal of a “total shutdown” of the department.