Education

Trump Is Weaponizing the Department of Education After Pledging To Kill It

Instead of abolishing the department, the president increased its budget. It's now pursuing investigations against school districts for seemingly political reasons.

Joe Lancaster | 9.8.2026 1:30 PM

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(Lucas Deaver/Dirk Ercken/Feverpitched. Illustration: Adani Samat)

When he ran for a second term in 2024, President Donald Trump pledged to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. More than 18 months into his term, not only is the department still very much alive, but it's carrying out ill-informed and seemingly politically motivated investigations of school districts.

For example, the administration has targeted transgender girls—born biologically male but presenting outwardly as female—who compete in women's sports.

"Under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Title IX), educational institutions receiving Federal funds cannot deny women an equal opportunity to participate in sports," according to a February 2025 presidential order. "Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities," as well as "to oppose male competitive participation in women's sports more broadly."

Since then, the Trump administration has sued school districts around the country for allegedly violating the order, including Jeffco Public Schools, the school district of Jefferson County, Colorado.

In March of this year, the Department of Education charged that Jeffco Public Schools had violated Title IX "by permitting male students to........

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