The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday it will transfer two of its most significant functions — oversight of special education programs and civil rights enforcement — to other federal agencies, marking the latest step in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the department’s footprint.
Why It Matters
The moves affect millions of students nationwide, including those with disabilities who rely on federal guarantees under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and students who file civil rights complaints against schools. The restructuring does not eliminate the legal obligations, but it shifts which federal agencies carry them out.
States like Georgia, which administer large public school systems under federal oversight, could face transition periods as agency contacts, complaint processes, and enforcement channels change hands.
What Happened
Under the plan announced June 16, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services — known as OSERS — will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. OSERS oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which guarantees a free public education to students with disabilities. The office includes the Office of Special Education Programs and the Rehabilitation Services Administration.
Separately, the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates civil rights complaints filed by students and families against schools, will be transferred to the Department of Justice. Under the agreement, the DOJ Civil Rights Division will take on the evaluation, investigation, and resolution of those complaints. The Education Department said OCR will retain its management structure in compliance with federal law, and that the DOJ will also provide technical assistance on public school desegregation matters.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the transfers as a way to strengthen oversight while reducing what she called federal overreach. “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,” McMahon said.
The department also stated it “will continue to perform all statutorily required duties and responsibilities,” a point aimed at addressing legal concerns about the reorganization.
By the Numbers
- 10 — number of earlier interagency agreements the Education Department has signed with the Departments of Labor, HHS, Interior, State, and Treasury before Tuesday’s announcement
- 46 — years the Department of Education has existed as a standalone cabinet agency
- 2 — major offices being transferred: OSERS to HHS, OCR to DOJ
- June 16, 2026 — date of the announcement
Opposition and Concerns
Critics of the plan argue that consolidating these functions into larger agencies with broader mandates will reduce the specialized attention historically underserved students have received. Rachel Gittleman, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, called the restructuring disruptive rather than efficient. “This isn’t efficiency — it’s chaos,” she said, adding that she believes the changes target historically underserved students while undermining the federal workers carrying out those responsibilities.
Advocates for students with disabilities have raised questions about whether HHS, which administers a broad portfolio of health and social services programs, is structured to handle the education-specific demands of IDEA enforcement with the same focus as a dedicated education office.
Zoom Out
The Trump administration has pursued a broad reduction of the Education Department since taking office in January 2025, cutting staff and consolidating functions. However, only Congress has the legal authority to formally abolish the department, meaning these transfers represent administrative restructuring rather than a statutory shutdown.
Similar debates over federal education oversight have emerged in other states as well. Georgia lawmakers have been active on education-related policy questions; the state legislature recently considered a range of agenda items during a special session, including matters affecting state executive functions. You can read more about Georgia’s legislative activity here.
What’s Next
The Education Department did not specify an implementation timeline for the transfers. Congressional Democrats are expected to scrutinize whether the reorganization complies with existing law, particularly the statutes that created OSERS and OCR as Education Department offices. Legal challenges from advocacy groups or unions remain possible as the transition moves forward.