On August 24, 2026, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated that the federal government is committed to addressing sexual misconduct involving teachers and staff in schools across the United States. In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," McMahon criticized school districts for reassigning teachers accused of misconduct instead of terminating their employment. She referenced a 2004 Education Department literature review indicating that approximately 10% of eighth- through 11th-grade students reported experiencing sexual misconduct by an educator, emphasizing that this definition includes various forms of inappropriate conduct.
McMahon highlighted that California officials did not revoke the licenses of at least 67 educators who were found to have committed sexual misconduct against students between 2019 and 2025, with some of these individuals later being hired by other districts. The Department of Education has also opened a Title IX investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District regarding its handling of allegations against teachers.
In her statements, McMahon asserted the importance of protecting children in schools and the responsibility of institutions receiving federal funding to report and address sexual misconduct appropriately. She warned that schools failing to comply with federal requirements could face enforcement actions, including the potential loss of federal assistance.