The Trump administration is transferring oversight of special education and civil rights programs from the Department of Education to the Justice and Health and Human Services departments as part of an effort to dismantle the agency.
The restructuring of critical education programs could disrupt federal oversight and support for students with disabilities and civil rights enforcement, potentially impacting educational equity and compliance across states.
President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its effort to dismantle the Department of Education by relocating key programs to other federal agencies. Oversight of special education, which manages the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and approximately $15 billion in federal funding, will transfer to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department of Justice will assume responsibility for enforcing civil rights in education and protecting student privacy, while also offering training and advisory services to schools. These moves have raised concerns among advocates for children with disabilities and some lawmakers, who fear that the restructuring could disrupt progress and weaken federal coordination in these critical areas. As of last June, over 30 states and territories required assistance in meeting IDEA requirements for students with disabilities.