The Trump administration announced that oversight of special education and civil rights will no longer be conducted by the Department of Education.
Instead, the ED has launched interagency agreements. “HHS will partner with ED on special education and rehabilitative services, and DOJ will partner with ED on civil rights enforcement, student privacy protection, and training and advisory services,” the department explained in a news release on the matter.
“The Trump Administration has been clear: as we scale back federal micromanagement when it hinders success, we are equally committed to bolstering the efficacy of federal oversight where it is essential,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Through our partnership with HHS, we will align federal services with the goal of strengthening academic outcomes and supporting individuals with disabilities so that they can achieve greater independence, key life skills, and meaningful employment. The Department of Education will also team up with DOJ to ensure stronger, more coordinated civil rights enforcement and robust protections for student privacy. These agreements align federal responsibilities with the agencies best positioned to support them, strengthening the effectiveness and impact of critical services.”
The development aligns with President Trump’s order directing McMahon to take the necessary steps to close the Department of Education. “The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely,” the order read.
