Trump moves oversight of special education and civil rights from the Education Department

The Trump administration announced plans to shift oversight of special education and civil rights enforcement away from the Education Department, assigning these responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), respectively. Under the agreements, HHS will manage special education programs, including billions in grants and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, while the DOJ will handle civil rights investigations and student privacy protections. The Education Department, led by Secretary Linda McMahon, framed the move as a way to streamline federal oversight by aligning responsibilities with agencies best equipped to handle them. McMahon stated the administration aims to reduce federal micromanagement while ensuring essential oversight remains intact. However, critics argue the changes will create uncertainty for students and families, particularly those already marginalized. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights, two key Education Department divisions, were central to the transfer. The Office for Civil Rights has already seen significant layoffs, raising concerns about its capacity to investigate discrimination complaints. Meanwhile, the DOJ will take over daily enforcement duties, though the Education Department will retain some legal obligations, such as responding to audits and finalizing civil rights cases. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) condemned the move, calling it a misallocation of resources that prioritizes bureaucratic restructuring over student needs. Advocacy groups, including EdTrust, warned that underserved students—such as those with disabilities, Black and Latino students, and low-income learners—will face the greatest consequences from the shift. The changes follow earlier internal agreements that transferred other Education Department programs to federal agencies. The administration’s broader goal remains reducing federal involvement in education, a stance Trump has repeatedly emphasized during his presidency. While Congress would need to formally dismantle the Education Department, these agreements effectively decentralize its functions, raising questions about accountability and support for vulnerable student populations.