Trump administration shifts oversight of special education and civil rights from the Education Department to Health and Human Services and Justice Department; impacts millions of students.

The Trump administration's recent decision to transfer oversight of special education and civil rights from the Education Department to the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Justice Departments will significantly impact millions of students.¹²

Approximately 7 million students who benefit from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which allocates $15 billion in grants, will be affected by this shift.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will now fall under HHS, while the Department of Justice will oversee civil rights enforcement in education.³⁴⁷

Denise Forte, president and CEO of Ed Trust, criticized the move, calling it “another vindictive attempt to undermine public education.”⁶

The administration claims the changes are part of a commitment to reduce what they describe as micromanagement within the Education Department.

Critics, including Rachel Gittleman, president of the union representing department employees, warn that this decision could create chaos for families and schools, leaving vulnerable students without necessary services and protections against discrimination.⁹

The Department of Justice will also take on responsibilities for protecting student privacy and providing training to schools, further complicating the landscape of educational oversight.

This restructuring is seen as a continuation of the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Education Department, which the president has vowed to close.