U.S. Education Department Shifts Special Education and Civil Rights Oversight to HHS and DOJ

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that the Department of Education will transfer oversight of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services and civil‑rights enforcement, student‑privacy protection and related training to the Department of Justice. The changes are part of a broader effort to scale back the Education Department’s role under the Project 2025 agenda.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which administers billions of dollars in IDEA‑related grants, will move to HHS, while the Office for Civil Rights, which handles discrimination complaints in schools, will be placed under the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. The administration says the realignment will improve efficiency and place responsibilities with agencies “best positioned to support them.”

Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated, “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.” Critics, including teachers’ unions and disability‑rights groups, warn the move could create chaos for vulnerable students, weaken oversight and jeopardize protections mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504.