Education Department Transfers Special Ed Responsibilities to HHS
WHO:
AP News - Linda McMahon is the education secretary who stated that the agreements align federal responsibilities with the agencies best positioned to support them.
AP News - Linda McMahon is the education secretary who has formed agreements with other federal agencies to handle much of the Education Department’s work.
CT Mirror - The US Department of Education is involved in the transfer of special education programs.
ABC News - The Department of Education is planning to move functions to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
WHAT:
AP News - The Department of Justice will take over work protecting student privacy and will provide training and advisory help to schools.
PBS - The Department of Justice will also take on enforcement of civil rights in education.
AP News - The Department of Justice will take over work protecting student privacy and will provide training and advisory help to schools.
CT Mirror - The US Department of Education announced efforts to outsource its special education programs and civil rights enforcement.
ABC News - The Department of Education is taking a major step in dismantling itself by transferring special education and civil rights functions.
WHERE:
CT Mirror - The transfer involves the US Department of Education, HHS, and DOJ.
WHEN:
ABC News - The Department of Education plans to move these functions in the future.
WHY:
PBS - Critics, including EdTrust, argue that the changes will undermine accountability and create uncertainty around services that families depend upon.
AP News - Critics, including Rep. Bobby Scott and Sen. Patty Murray, argue that the changes will likely widen inequities for students of color and students with disabilities.
CT Mirror - The move is part of a broader effort to shift responsibilities from the Education Department.
HOW:
AP News - The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services manages billions of dollars in grants and oversees state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
AP News - The Education Department has offloaded some of its programs through 10 earlier internal agreements.
ABC News - The Department of Education is planning to transfer its functions to other federal agencies.
(UPDATED June 17, 2026 12:22 UTC)
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that the Department of Justice will assume responsibility for protecting student privacy and will offer training and advisory support to schools. In addition, the Department will take on the enforcement of civil rights in education, a move that has drawn criticism from groups like EdTrust, who argue it may undermine accountability and create uncertainty for families. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which manages billions in grants, will continue to oversee state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 04:24 UTC)
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has established agreements with other federal agencies to manage much of the Education Department's responsibilities. As part of this shift, the Department of Justice will now oversee the protection of student privacy and offer training and advisory support to schools. Critics, including Rep. Bobby Scott and Sen. Patty Murray, are raising concerns that these changes could exacerbate inequities for students of color and those with disabilities.
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(UPDATED June 16, 2026 21:54 UTC)
The US Department of Education has announced plans to transfer its special education programs and civil rights enforcement functions to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. This significant move is part of a broader effort to dismantle certain responsibilities within the Education Department. The transfer is expected to occur in the future, marking a major shift in how these essential services are managed at the federal level.