McMahon Declares War on School Districts Hiding Sexual Predators

Clear Facts

• Education Secretary Linda McMahon announces federal crackdown on teachers and school staff accused of sexual misconduct against students
• At least 67 California educators kept their licenses despite sexual misconduct findings, with 14 later hired by other districts
• Department of Education investigating Los Angeles Unified School District over union agreement allegedly protecting accused teachers

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon declared Sunday that the federal government is launching a full-scale crackdown on sexual misconduct involving teachers and school staff across the nation. The announcement signals a major policy shift toward protecting America’s children from predators in positions of authority.

During a Sunday interview, McMahon denounced the practice of school districts quietly reassigning teachers accused of sexual misconduct rather than terminating their employment. This practice, known in education circles as “passing the trash,” allows accused educators to move between districts without consequences.

“And it’s not part of their record or anything, so we have really been cracking down on that as well,” McMahon said.

The Education Secretary cited a 2004 Department of Education literature review revealing that approximately one in 10 eighth- through 11th-grade students reported sexual misconduct by an educator. While the review used a broad definition including physical, verbal and visual conduct, the statistics paint a disturbing picture of systemic failure to protect children.

California provides a stark example of the problem. Officials at the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing failed to revoke licenses of at least 67 educators after school districts determined they committed sexual misconduct against students from 2019 through 2025, according to investigations by ProPublica and KQED.

Even more troubling, at least 14 of those educators were subsequently hired by other school districts. At least 12 remained working in education as of May, potentially putting more children at risk.

The Department of Education has already taken action, opening a Title IX investigation in May into the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school system.

“Our schools must protect America’s children. Parents should never have to wonder whether their kids’ school employs and protects sexual predators,” McMahon stated.

“Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law.”

The investigation targets an agreement with the United Teachers of Los Angeles that appears to require teachers credibly accused of serious misconduct to be merely reassigned rather than terminated. The allegations under investigation include teachers having sexual or romantic relationships with students, creating child pornography, or failing to report suspected child abuse.

LAUSD and UTLA have disputed the department’s characterization, claiming that reassignment means sending an employee home away from students during an investigation, not transferring them to another classroom or school. They maintain that termination remains possible when allegations are proven.

However, McMahon made clear that schools failing to comply with federal requirements under Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will face serious consequences, including potential termination of federal funding.

“Make no mistake, the Department will fully enforce federal law and employ every resource at its disposal to protect children from sexual predators,” McMahon wrote.

“Those schools that allow sexual misconduct to occur risk the termination of applicable federal assistance provided by the federal government.”

“This epidemic of nationwide sexual abuse in our schools must end,” McMahon declared.

The announcement represents a significant escalation in federal oversight of local education practices. By threatening to withhold federal dollars, the Education Department is wielding its most powerful enforcement tool to compel school districts to prioritize student safety over protecting adult employees.

For parents across America who entrust their children to public schools daily, McMahon’s pledge offers hope that accountability is finally coming to an education system that has too often prioritized institutional interests over child protection.

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