WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Agriculture is assisting the Department of Education in its investigation of California and the state’s law prohibiting school officials from sharing a child’s “gender identity” with parents, The Daily Wire has learned.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins informed California Governor Gavin Newsom of the move in a letter sent Thursday evening, first obtained by The Daily Wire.
“This is to inform you that, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the United States Department of Agriculture is undertaking 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,” Rollins wrote.
The USDA secretary told Newsom that her department will be working with other agencies and departments to ensure that California is in compliance with the United States Constitution, federal laws (including Titles VI and IX), and President Donald Trump’s priorities.
Specifically, USDA is supporting the Education Department’s investigation into the California Department of Education for violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“As the ED reported today, FERPA gives parents the right to access their children’s education records, but 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 records about a child’s ‘gender identity’ to that child’s parent,” Rollins wrote.
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (2nd L) speaks as US President Donald Trump hosts a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
“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,” she added, noting: “Similarly, we will be reviewing our federal funding with respect to other related matters under investigation.”
The move comes hours after the Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office announced an investigation into the California Department of Education (CDE) for “alleged violations” of FERPA, which “gives parents the right to access their children’s educational data.”
The Education Department said Thursday that CDE has “abdicated the responsibilities FERPA imposes” due to California’s law prohibiting school officials from sharing information about a child’s supposed “gender identity” with parents. In a release, the department said that it has reason to believe that numerous local educational agencies in California may be violating FERPA as they socially transition kids in school and hide their activities from parents.
Given the number of local educational agencies involved, the Education Department said, it is concerned that CDE is playing a role in the “widespread adoption of these practices.”
“Teachers and school 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,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
“The agency launched today’s investigation 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,” she added.
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[[{“value”:”
WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Agriculture is assisting the Department of Education in its investigation of California and the state’s law prohibiting school officials from sharing a child’s “gender identity” with parents, The Daily Wire has learned.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins informed California Governor Gavin Newsom of the move in a letter sent Thursday evening, first obtained by The Daily Wire.
“This is to inform you that, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the United States Department of Agriculture is undertaking 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,” Rollins wrote.
The USDA secretary told Newsom that her department will be working with other agencies and departments to ensure that California is in compliance with the United States Constitution, federal laws (including Titles VI and IX), and President Donald Trump’s priorities.
Specifically, USDA is supporting the Education Department’s investigation into the California Department of Education for violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
“As the ED reported today, FERPA gives parents the right to access their children’s education records, but 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 records about a child’s ‘gender identity’ to that child’s parent,” Rollins wrote.
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (2nd L) speaks as US President Donald Trump hosts a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
“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,” she added, noting: “Similarly, we will be reviewing our federal funding with respect to other related matters under investigation.”
The move comes hours after the Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office announced an investigation into the California Department of Education (CDE) for “alleged violations” of FERPA, which “gives parents the right to access their children’s educational data.”
The Education Department said Thursday that CDE has “abdicated the responsibilities FERPA imposes” due to California’s law prohibiting school officials from sharing information about a child’s supposed “gender identity” with parents. In a release, the department said that it has reason to believe that numerous local educational agencies in California may be violating FERPA as they socially transition kids in school and hide their activities from parents.
Given the number of local educational agencies involved, the Education Department said, it is concerned that CDE is playing a role in the “widespread adoption of these practices.”
“Teachers and school 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,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
“The agency launched today’s investigation 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,” she added.
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