Trump Administration Streamlines Education Oversight
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is advancing its agenda by shifting oversight of special education and civil rights from the Department of Education to other federal agencies.
Under the new plan, the Department of Justice will handle civil rights enforcement in education, while the Department of Health and Human Services will take charge of special education. Announced recently, this restructuring effectively redistributes most of the Education Department’s responsibilities.
Trump has long advocated for the dissolution of the Department of Education, claiming, “I intend to return education authority back to the states.” However, only Congress has the power to dissolve departments. Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education and a former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, has worked out agreements with other agencies to manage a significant portion of the department’s role.
McMahon articulated that this change aligns federal responsibilities with agencies that can better address them.
“The Trump Administration is committed to reducing federal micromanagement that hampers efficiency, while also emphasizing the importance of federal oversight where necessary,” McMahon explained in a statement.
However, advocates are raising concerns that this shift may create instability for the services relied upon by countless families.
According to EdTrust, a think tank focused on educational equity, traditionally underserved groups—like students with disabilities and those from low-income families—are likely to suffer the most from this decision. They have already expressed strong opposition to these changes.
The Department of Education had already outsourced some programs earlier in the year. The latest adjustments, particularly involving the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, attracted significant attention.
This department manages billions in grants and ensures compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Meanwhile, the Office for Civil Rights, which deals with discrimination complaints in educational settings, has faced layoffs.
The Department of Justice will also assume responsibility for safeguarding student privacy and will offer training for educational institutions.
Rachel Gittleman, the president of the union representing Department of Education employees, voiced that this shift would lead to disruption for families, students, and schools.
“This will exclude vulnerable students from the education system, leaving them without necessary resources and protections against discrimination,” Gittleman stated.
The transfer of special education oversight to Health and Human Services has particularly alarmed advocacy groups. They argue that ensuring schools meet the needs of students with disabilities is better suited for educational professionals rather than medical ones.
“The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act aims to facilitate skill development among students in a peer environment, not to ‘fix’ them. HHS lacks the expertise to effectively manage it,” remarked Jennifer Coco, interim executive director of the Center for Learning Equity.
The Department of Education highlighted that McMahon spent over six months gathering feedback from families, advocates, and educators to understand the implications of dismantling the department on special education. While many voiced concerns about future barriers to services, Coco pointed out that those involved were united in their opposition to moving oversight away from education professionals.
“I think there’s broad consensus on this issue,” Coco stated. “We seem to differ significantly on the solutions, and I’m not convinced that today’s restructuring is the right answer.”
