Minnesota Federal Court Throws Out Government Suit Over School Layoff Rules

A federal district court in Minnesota has thrown out the federal government's claim that Minneapolis Public Schools use a discriminatory layoff formula that protects teachers of color while targeting white teachers first. The judge noted that the layoff rules were negotiated in a collective-bargaining agreement with the teachers’ union, meaning any adverse ruling would also affect the union’s contract, which was not named as a defendant.

Because the union cannot defend itself in the current suit, the court found the case procedurally improper. The decision leaves the contested layoff policy intact for now, though its legality remains uncertain. No further penalties or injunctions were imposed. The ruling can be reviewed if the government files a new suit addressing the procedural issues.