USDA Probes Use of Funds in California Education
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins communicated with California Governor Gavin Newsom, signaling the start of a comprehensive review of the state's utilization of federal educational funds.
This development is part of broader efforts to ensure that federal funding adheres to constitutional and legal standards, particularly in the realm of education and parental rights.
The inquiry was prompted by concerns that these funds might support educational programs that do not conform to established federal criteria, especially those related to transgender policies in public schools.
"This is to inform you that 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 in her letter to Newsom.
Central to the USDA's concerns is the enforcement of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which has been potentially compromised by state legislation limiting the disclosure of students' gender identity to parents. These issues pose challenges to the foundational rights of parents to oversee their children's education records and information.
In her letter, Secretary Rollins affirmed the USDA's support for the Department of Education's (ED) efforts to enforce federal law and safeguard parental rights. "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 emphasized.
This review could reshape the landscape of federal educational funding in California, reinforcing the necessity for compliance with federal laws and the protection of parental rights in educational settings.