Education Dept Moves Special Education and Civil Rights Oversight to HHS and DOJ

The Trump administration announced new interagency agreements that will shift the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) from the U.S. Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services, and expand the Department of Justice’s role in civil‑rights investigations in schools. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the changes aim to improve efficiency while keeping student protections intact, stating, “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.” A senior Education Department official added, “Students will not lose any rights, including their right to a free appropriate public education.”

Democratic lawmakers, education advocates, and labor groups warned that moving these functions could weaken federal enforcement of disability and civil‑rights protections for students, especially those with disabilities, and raised concerns about the legality of the shift under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.