The U.S. Department of Education is investigating multiple school districts, including one in Maine, regarding complaints about transgender students. The investigations, stemming from alleged violations of the administration’s interpretation of Title IX, focus on policies allowing transgender girls to participate in girls’ athletics. In Maine, the investigation of Regional School Unit 19 concerns a complaint that the district allowed a male student to join a co-ed cheerleading squad and use female facilities. This investigation follows the president’s rescinding of a prior interpretation of Title IX and the state’s opposing stance, including a lawsuit against the Department of Education.
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A bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers has voiced opposition to the Department of Education’s proposal for new student-loan limits within President Trump’s repayment overhaul. The proposal includes lifetime borrowing caps for graduate and professional students, with a $100,000 limit for graduate programs and a $200,000 limit for professional programs, which the department has defined to include programs like medicine, dentistry, and law. Lawmakers argue that excluding post-graduate nursing programs from the professional definition could worsen existing nursing shortages, particularly for programs such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. The Department of Education maintains that the caps would affect a small percentage of nursing students, with the changes slated for implementation in 2026 and are still subject to public feedback.
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Due to a backlog of school discrimination cases, the Department of Education has requested that hundreds of employees who were laid off months ago temporarily return to work. The agency’s Office for Civil Rights has been significantly reduced, prompting the need to utilize all available resources to address the rising caseload. The directive, outlined in a December 5th email, calls for approximately 250 workers who are currently on administrative leave to assist. Although the department is facing persistent legal challenges, they will utilize all employees currently being compensated by American taxpayers.
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Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s resignation due to her efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Warren argued that McMahon’s actions, including mass layoffs and the transfer of key functions to other agencies, will negatively impact families and schools. Under the proposed plan, programs like Title I would be managed by the Department of Labor, potentially affecting funding for K-12 schools. This call for resignation followed legal action from a coalition of labor unions and educators who claim the administration’s actions violate the Constitution and harm students.
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Under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Education is implementing changes to student loan reimbursement, with the “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP) replacing previous programs. A key factor in determining reimbursement is whether a degree is considered “professional,” leading to concern as several degrees, including nursing, are excluded from the list. This reclassification could significantly impact students pursuing these degrees, as they may receive less financial aid, potentially deterring them from entering high-demand professions and possibly exacerbating workforce shortages. Various stakeholders are criticizing the exclusion of these professions, arguing it contradicts the traditional understanding of “professional” and could have detrimental effects on public health and other critical sectors.
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In a recent ruling, a federal judge found the Department of Education infringed upon the First Amendment rights of its employees. The judge, an appointee of former President Obama, determined that the department unconstitutionally compelled employees’ speech. The ruling stemmed from the Department’s use of out-of-office messages, which included partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Consequently, the court barred the administration from altering these messages to include partisan speech for union members.
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Education Secretary Linda McMahon suggested the federal government shutdown highlights the potential dispensability of her agency. This comment came after the Education Department initiated layoffs impacting offices crucial for special education and civil rights. McMahon noted that despite the shutdown, schools continue to function with teachers receiving pay and students attending classes as usual. The Secretary’s remarks indicate a critical perspective on the necessity and efficiency of the department.
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The Department of Education eliminated the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of layoffs, impacting nearly all staff administering federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The union representing the agency’s employees stated that these firings harm K-12 students and schools. These terminations are part of the Trump administration’s strategy to pressure congressional Democrats to end the ongoing government shutdown, with over 460 Education Department employees laid off. The Education Secretary has suggested that oversight of IDEA funding could be better positioned in the Department of Health and Human Services, though it would require an act of Congress.
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On the first day of the US government shutdown, employees at the Department of Education (DOE) discovered their automatic out-of-office email responses had been altered to include partisan language, blaming Senate Democrats for the shutdown. This change was made without employee consent, with some employees attempting to revert to neutral language only to have it changed back. The DOE’s human resources had originally provided employees with neutral out-of-office language, as did the Small Business Administration and, according to sources and screenshots reviewed by WIRED, the Department of Labor. The altered message explicitly placed blame on Senate Democrats.
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President Trump signed an executive order initiating the dismantling of the Department of Education, though full abolishment requires Congressional approval. While the White House claims critical functions like student loan oversight will continue, the order directs significant downsizing, prompting immediate legislative action from Senator Cassidy. Opponents, including Democrats and several advocacy groups, strongly criticized the move, citing potential harm to vulnerable student populations and unconstitutionality. Public polling reveals widespread opposition to eliminating the department.
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John Q. Hosedrinker