Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Shifts OSERS and Civil Rights Office to HHS and DOJ
6/19/2026, 5:51:59 AM
OSERS and Civil Rights Office Transfer
In November 2025 the Trump administration announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will jointly oversee the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), while the Department of Justice (DOJ) will assume the Office of Civil Rights’s duties. The administration says the realignment cuts bureaucracy and improves outcomes; the Education Department asserts that services will continue without disruption.
Interagency Agreements Expand Education Oversight
The Education Department has issued 14 interagency agreements since November, moving functions such as primary-secondary education, Native American education, workforce development, medical accreditation, child-care and student-loan portfolios to other agencies. The latest agreements place OSERS under HHS and the civil-rights office under DOJ, expanding education oversight across six agencies: HHS, Labor, Justice, Interior, Treasury and State.
Data & Statistics on the Realignment
The 14 interagency agreements include the OSERS transfer. The Office of Civil Rights dismissed hundreds of staff last year, creating a backlog, and recalled many in December. A Senate-staffed study found at least 23,000 pending civil-rights cases, with only 1 % resolved in 2025. OSERS serves people with disabilities of all ages, and HHS already runs school nutrition programs.
Agency Statements on the Move
HHS spokesperson Savannah Newhouse said HHS “administers a broad portfolio of programs that support individuals with disabilities across multiple divisions.” The Education Department stressed that “states, students, and families should expect to see no disruptions” and that OSERS will keep its statutory duties. Newhouse added that Secretary Linda McMahon “routinely” updates congressional leaders.
Legislative Criticism and Opposition
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) argued OSERS is too large for HHS and suggested the Labor Department. Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) voiced family concerns about disability services. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) warned of a slowdown in civil-rights case prosecutions. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) called the DOJ “incapable” and “weaponized.” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said the move could be a step toward shutting down the office.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The administration frames the realignment as a partnership to preserve programs, yet critics note missing details on funding and possible service disruptions. The Education Department’s “no disruptions” claim conflicts with concerns about staffing backlogs at the Office of Civil Rights and unclear implementation timelines.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I thought it was wrong to move OSERS,” — Bill Cassidy, Senator, Louisiana
- “I’ve heard concerns from so many families with loved ones with disabilities,” — Andy Kim, Senator, New Jersey
- “We’ve already seen less cases being prosecuted, less advocacy for our children.” — Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senator, Delaware
- “We’ve seen this Department of Justice is incapable, really. They are used, they’ve been weaponized by this administration. The administration has totally stripped the integrity of other people at that agency,” — Angela Alsobrooks, Senator, Maryland
What’s Next
The HELP committee plans to summon Secretary McMahon for testimony, and senators such as Cassidy are urging further hearings. The administration may need to clarify funding and implementation as interagency agreements expand.
