Trump moves education oversight to HHS, civil rights to DOJ

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, a major reorganization of federal education oversight, moving key special education programs and civil rights enforcement responsibilities out of the Department of Education. The changes will transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the Department of Health and Human Services and shift the duties of the Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the moves are designed to align federal responsibilities with the agencies best positioned to support them, strengthening the effectiveness of critical services. Administration officials argued the changes would improve government efficiency and lead to better results for students.

The reorganization represents some of the most aggressive steps yet by an administration that has long pledged to dismantle the Education Department. While formally closing the department requires an act of Congress, officials have pursued a strategy of transferring its core functions to other agencies through interagency agreements. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services oversees billions of...