Investigations Led by Trump's Education Department: Discover the Schools Under Scrutiny and the Reasons Why
The U.S. Department of Education, under the administration of President Donald Trump, has seen a significant shift in focus and staffing over the past few years.
One of the most notable changes is the department's crackdown on race-based programming. An executive order by Trump has led to the issuance of a memo, instructing schools to end any race-based programming or risk losing federal funds. This directive has been reinforced through executive action, with more than 129 investigations initiated since Trump took office.
Interestingly, most of these investigations were not in response to complaints, but were initiated by the department itself. The Education Department's office for civil rights, responsible for investigating discrimination claims, has faced deep cuts due to the department's downsizing, with more than 40 percent of its staff being cut either through layoffs or buyout offers.
The office for civil rights typically opens investigations in response to claims it receives from students, parents, school staff, and community members. However, under the Trump administration, the office has also been conducting proactive compliance reviews and policy enforcement, known as directed investigations. These investigations, which the Trump administration uses more frequently than previous administrations, have targeted school district, university, and state policies on transgender students, as well as universities' diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In addition, Trump has made it official U.S. policy to recognize only two sexes. This policy has been a point of contention, with Trump threatening to pull federal funding from schools that don't comply with his executive order barring transgender girls from girls' sports teams.
The department's shift in focus has also led to staff reductions, with seven of its 12 regional offices being shuttered in March. The remaining investigators' caseloads are expected to increase due to the staff reductions.
Antisemitic harassment has been the third most common subject of Trump administration investigations, highlighting the ongoing issue of hate crimes in the United States.
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