Education Department's Civil Rights Probes See Increased Influence from Advocacy Groups

Washington D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, has significantly increased its collaboration with conservative advocacy organizations, notably Parents Defending Education (PDE) led by Nicki Neily, in initiating civil rights investigations into school districts. This development, reported in mid-October 2025, highlights a strategic shift in how the federal agency identifies and pursues alleged violations, particularly concerning parental rights and gender identity policies in schools.

Parents Defending Education has played a pivotal role in these efforts, actively identifying what they term "parental exclusion policies" in school districts nationwide. According to reports from The Guardian and The 74, PDE has scoured district websites for evidence of policies that allow students to change their gender identity without parental consent, subsequently filing complaints that have led to federal probes.

One such instance involved an investigation into Maine school districts. Education Secretary McMahon publicly credited Defending Education for gathering documents through public records requests, stating, "We’re proud to stand with you and President Trump as you ensure that the law is being followed and that the school districts do not infringe on parents’ rights," as quoted by Neily in a video announcement. Similar complaints filed by PDE have led to investigations into equity policies in Chicago and Fairfax, Virginia.

Critics, including former civil rights officials, suggest this approach marks a departure from traditional departmental neutrality, transforming the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) into an advocacy-driven entity. Jackie Wernz, an attorney who served in OCR under previous administrations, observed that the department "has changed from a neutral arbiter of civil rights disputes to an advocacy organization," creating significant pressure on educational institutions.

The department's strategy, which includes featuring quotes from advocates in official press releases announcing investigations, is seen by some as pre-judging cases. Nicki Neily, President of Parents Defending Education, has consistently advocated for classrooms that "educate – not indoctrinate," emphasizing the organization's mission to empower parents and challenge what they view as radical ideologies in K-12 education. This intensified partnership signals a clear direction for federal education policy under the current administration, prioritizing parental involvement and conservative interpretations of civil rights in schools.