U.S. Education Department probes New York's mascot ban after Trump backs Massapequa challenge

The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday it has launched an investigation into the New York State Board of Regents to determine if the threat of withholding funds from schools with sports teams that continue to use Native American imagery and references violates civil rights laws.

The announcement came after President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to say the Massapequa school district should be allowed to keep its name and logo.

The education department’s Office for Civil Rights will assess whether the state is discriminating against Native Americans on the basis of race and national origin — thus violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act — by demanding Massapequa change the name and mascot of the "Chiefs" sports teams or else lose funding, according to a news release issued Friday.

The state Board of Regents banned public school sports teams from using Native American mascots, logos and team names in the spring of 2023. The guidance impacted 13 districts across Long Island, nine of which have since taken steps to comply. Massapequa and three other districts — Connetquot, Wantagh and Wyandanch — risk losing state aid if they do not retire the use of indigenous iconography and names by June 30.

The four holdout districts filed a lawsuit against the mascot ban in 2023. U.S. Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie dismissed the lawsuits last month on the grounds the districts did not have the capacity to sue the state and lacked sufficient evidence to bolster their claims, Newsday reported at the time.

The removal of references to Native Americans in school sports represents an attempt "to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Friday in a statement. She added that New York is prioritizing "erasing Native Americans" and "their rich history" over "educating our students."

"It is not lost on the Department that there are several mascots that refer to indigenous or ethnic groups — the Vikings, Fighting Irish, the Cowboys — and yet New York has specifically singled out Native American heritage," McMahon added.

The federal education department’s announcement arrived four days after President Trump directly called on McMahon "to fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue" in a Truth Social post.

Members of the Board of Regents could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

In a statement issued Friday, Kerry Wachter, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, thanked Trump and the education department "for standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community’s proud history."

"Attempts to erase Native American imagery do not advance learning — they distract from our core mission of providing a high-quality education grounded in respect, history, and community values," Watcher added.

The board of education president also said she was "grateful" for the advocacy of the Native American Guardian's Association. The North Dakota-based nonprofit is composed of Native Americans "who support the beautiful artistry of native identifiers in sports and the mainstream," according to its website.

The organization asserts "the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students," Frank Blackcloud, the organization’s vice president, said in a statement.

"Maintaining a respectable presence in NY State schools is vital to educational equity, historical truth, and the civil rights of all American Indians," Blackcloud added.

The state education department had not yet heard about the investigation, according to JP O'Hare, director of communications, but he said federal attempts to interfere with New York’s decision contradicts McMahon’s previous statements regarding sending education “back to the states.”

Harry Wallace, Chief of the Unkechaug Indian Nation said in a statement: “All empirical evidence and research has proven that the use of Native American Mascots perpetuate racist symbolism that cause harm to Native and non-Native alike. But this is not about logic, it's about emotion. ”

In a letter issued Friday, the Wantagh board of education announced a plan to file an appeal against the federal judge’s dismissal of their lawsuit. The board members told district parents they "remain committed to this cause" of maintaining the "cherished ‘Warrior’ name."

"During this process, we are also mindful of the approaching deadline of July 1, 2025, for school districts to comply," the letter reads. "We are actively preparing to ensure that our district does not risk losing New York State school aid or the removal of our school officers, as we navigate this complex situation."