The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping in to assist the Department of Education in an investigation into California’s controversial law that restricts school officials from sharing a child’s gender identity with their parents. This announcement came from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, who communicated the decision to California Governor Gavin Newsom in a letter.
In her letter, Rollins explained that this action is part of a broader review directed by President Donald Trump. The USDA will examine whether California’s educational practices comply with federal laws, including Titles VI and IX, and the U.S. Constitution. The focus is on ensuring that parents’ rights are protected, especially under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants parents access to their children’s educational records.
The investigation stems from concerns that California’s law is causing school officials to bypass their responsibilities under FERPA. According to the USDA, the California Department of Education may be failing to uphold parental rights by not disclosing information about a child’s gender identity, which could lead to significant consequences for families.
Secretary Rollins emphasized that the USDA will collaborate with other agencies to support the Education Department’s inquiry. She expressed a commitment to protecting parents’ rights and ensuring that students are not subjected to what she described as a radical transgender ideology that could result in family estrangement and irreversible medical treatments.
This investigation was announced shortly after the Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office revealed its own investigation into the California Department of Education. They suspect that many local educational agencies in California are violating FERPA by socially transitioning students without parental knowledge.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that it is inappropriate for teachers and counselors to guide minors on critical decisions regarding their gender identity and mental health without involving their parents. She added that it is both immoral and potentially illegal for schools to withhold important information about a student’s well-being from their families.
The USDA’s involvement in this matter marks a significant federal response to California’s law, highlighting ongoing tensions between state policies on gender identity and federal regulations concerning parental rights and student privacy.
