Downsizing Has Not Slowed the U.S. Department of Education’s Pursuit of Title IX Investigations

The U.S. Department of Education continues to progress through its restructuring and downsizing as a result of the Trump administration’s promise to “break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states.”

During a March 27, 2026, media release, the U.S. Department of Education stated as follows: “In a prudent step to save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and further reduce the federal education bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Edward C. Forst today announced that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will move out of the Lyndon B. Johnson headquarters building. ED will relocate to 500 D Street SW, saving taxpayers approximately $4.8 million annually in operating costs and eliminating wasted space in a building that is roughly 70% vacant. ED’s move is targeted for August 2026.”

Nevertheless, the ED remains active in investigating Title IX matters. For example, on March 31, 2026, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened a complaint into the Contoocook Valley School District in Peterborough, New Hampshire, based on reports that the District was allowing biological men to use girls’ restrooms and locker rooms. The OCR has said it will investigate whether the district violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) by allowing students access to intimate facilities based on “gender identity,” not biological sex. Relative to Pennsylvania, the ED also recently reported that The University of Pennsylvania entered into a resolution agreement to comply with Title IX, based upon alleged competitive advantage in allowing males to compete in women’s collegiate sports (female swimming and diving).

While the future breadth and depth of the federal education agency remains uncertain, certain core functionality remains.

For more information visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-downsize-footprint-washington-dc-and-save-taxpayers-over-48-million-annually