Exclusive | Trump launches national crackdown on teachers accused of sexual abuse, California could lose $50M

California’s inability to penalize sexually abusive teachers could cost the state’s schools some serious federal dough.

The Trump administration is launching a nationwide crackdown on schools accused of shielding sexually abusive teachers — and California could lose $50 million in federal funding for failing to protect students, The California Post has learned.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is expected to send letters to school districts nationwide Friday reminding them of their obligations under federal law to promptly investigate allegations of sexual abuse and harassment and prevent educators accused of abusing students from quietly moving to other schools, which is colloquially known as “passing the trash.”

California appears poised to be one of the administration’s biggest targets.

The Education Department will also announce a new national enforcement initiative by opening 20 civil rights investigations into school districts whose federal data submissions suggest they may have failed to properly address sexual misconduct by school employees, according to officials with knowledge of the situation.

Three California schools across two school districts stand to lose nearly $50 million in Title I funding if they are ultimately found in violation of federal law and refuse to come into compliance, officials told The Post. The department has not yet publicly identified any of the schools or districts.

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

“Schools that receive federal funding have a duty to protect students, report sexual misconduct honestly, and follow the law. Through this initiative, we are holding school districts accountable because every child deserves to learn in a safe environment free from sexual abuse and harassment.”  

The federal action comes just months after a ProPublica and KQED investigation found at least 67 California educators kept their teaching credentials even after school districts determined they had sexually harassed students or committed other forms of sexual misconduct. At least 12 of those educators remained employed in education despite the findings.

Among the cases cited by federal officials was a teacher who was allowed to transfer to another high school after a student complained he touched her thigh, stomach and shoulder. Additional female students at the new school later accused the same teacher of staring at their breasts and touching their backs and buttocks — but he again received counseling and sexual harassment workshops rather than being removed from the classroom.

Another case involved a teacher accused by multiple female students of making sexually suggestive comments and inappropriately touching them during class. An investigation substantiated the allegations, but the teacher was given a slap on the wrist and told to maintain appropriate boundaries and avoid similar comments or conduct.

Federal officials say those cases reflect a broader nationwide pattern of schools protecting employees rather than students by allowing accused educators to quietly resign, transfer or find jobs elsewhere.

McMahon’s letter to school officials is expected to note a troubling and recurring pattern in schools, where credible reports of sexual abuse and harassment by adults in positions of authority are not being investigated and predatory behavior is allowed to go unchecked.

Earlier this week, McMahon warned Harvard administrators that she was considering dropping the “hammer” on the Ivy League university over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that may run afoul of federal law.

The Education Department is expected to increase oversight of states’ compliance with federal law — most notably Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — and scrutinize school districts whose Civil Rights Data Collection reports appear inconsistent with evidence of sexual misconduct, including districts that report zero incidents despite information suggesting otherwise.

The Trump administration’s latest actions build on a Title IX investigation the department opened earlier this year into the Los Angeles Unified School District. An agreement between the school district and the United Teachers Los Angeles union guaranteed teachers accused of certain serious misconduct are reassigned — rather than immediately terminated or removed from student-facing positions — while investigations are pending.

Federal officials argue that collective bargaining agreements cannot override schools’ obligations under federal civil rights law to protect students from sexual misconduct.

The Education Department is suggesting that institutions failing to comply with federal law could ultimately face enforcement actions, including the termination of federal financial assistance.

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