The Trump administration has unveiled plans to transfer key responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education to other federal agencies, reigniting debate over the future of federal involvement in education policy.
Under the proposal, special education programs would be moved to the Department of Health and Human Services, while oversight of school-related civil rights enforcement would shift to the Department of Justice.
Administration officials argue that the changes will streamline operations and improve efficiency across the federal government. Critics, however, warn that the restructuring could weaken protections for students with disabilities and reduce oversight of discrimination complaints in schools.
The move represents one of the most significant steps yet toward reducing the role of the Education Department, a long-standing objective among many conservative policymakers.
Legal experts note that some aspects of the proposal could face congressional challenges and court scrutiny, particularly regarding programs established under existing federal law.
