Chicago – June 16, 2026
Washington — President Donald Trump’s administration announced Tuesday a major restructuring that further dismantles the U.S. Department of Education by transferring two core functions to other federal agencies.
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which oversees programs for students with disabilities, will move to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Meanwhile, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), responsible for enforcing student civil rights protections, will be shifted to the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice will also take over student privacy protection and provide advisory training to schools. These moves advance Trump’s campaign promise to close the Education Department entirely, though only Congress holds legal authority to abolish it.
Critics warn the restructuring could weaken protections for disabled students and undermine civil rights enforcement in schools. Opponents argue the White House cannot legally relocate offices Congress explicitly established within the Education Department without congressional approval.
The administration has previously transferred Title I funding, teacher training programs, and student loan management to the Labor and Treasury departments as part of its broader dismantling effort.
