President Donald Trump’s Department of Education launched an investigation on Thursday into the California Department of Education for allegedly violating the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act and “hiding minors’ ‘gender identity’ from parents.”
In a Thursday press release, the Department of Education stated, “The California Department of Education has allegedly abdicated the responsibilities FERPA imposes due to a new California state law that prohibits school personnel from disclosing a child’s ‘gender identity’ to that child’s parent.”
The Education Department added, “SPPO has reason to believe that numerous local educational agencies (LEAs) in California may be violating FERPA to socially transition children at school while hiding minors’ ‘gender identity’ from parents.”
In a letter obtained by The Daily Wire, Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) on Thursday that the department would be assisting the Education Department with its investigation of the Democrat-led state.
The letter obtained by The Daily Wire noted that the Department of Agriculture had been directed by the 47th president to conduct “a review of its research and other education-related funding in California for compliance with the Constitution, federal laws including Titles VI and IX, and the priorities of the Trump Administration.”
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In her letter to Newsom, Rollins emphasized that her department would support the Education Department’s investigation into California’s alleged violations of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, specifically with regard to the state’s law preventing parents from being informed about their child’s “gender identity.”
“USDA will support ED’s investigation and efforts to vigorously protect parents’ rights and ensure that students do not fall victim to a radical transgender ideology that often leads to family alienation and irreversible medical interventions,” Rollins wrote. She added, “Similarly, we will be reviewing our federal funding with respect to other related matters under investigation.”
In Thursday’s press release, Education Secretary Linda McMahon argued against California Assembly Bill 1955, stating that school teachers and counselors “should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health.”
“That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one,” McMahon added. “It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s wellbeing from parents and guardians.”