State of Washington v. United States Department of Education

FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 24 2026

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

STATE OF WASHINGTON; STATE OF No. 26-510 CALIFORNIA; STATE OF COLORADO; D.C. No. STATE OF CONNECTICUT; STATE OF 2:25-cv-01228-KKE

DELAWARE; STATE OF ILLINOIS;

STATE OF MAINE; STATE OF

MARYLAND; STATE OF

MASSACHUSETTS; STATE OF ORDER

MICHIGAN; STATE OF NEW MEXICO;

STATE OF NEW YORK; STATE OF

NEVADA; STATE OF OREGON; STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND; STATE OF

WISCONSIN,

Plaintiffs - Appellees,

v.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

EDUCATION; LINDA MCMAHON,

Defendants - Appellants.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Kymberly K. Evanson, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted February 23, 2026 San Francisco, California

Before: Richard C. Tallman, Jay S. Bybee, and Gabriel P. Sanchez, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam Plaintiff-Appellees are 16 states who sued for declaratory and injunctive

relief after the United States Department of Education sent notices discontinuing

multi-year grants…