
Trump administration launches probe into New York agency for its ban on Native American sports mascots
The NYDOE banned Native American-inspired logos and mascots for high school sports teams, which has made Massapequa School District on Long Island a target due to its continued use of the Chiefs mascot name.
A 2022 mandate by the NYDOE demands that all public schools retire Native American mascots or risk losing state funding. Four Long Island school districts, including Massapequa, filed a lawsuit challenging the order, but a federal judge dismissed the case.
Now, the Trump administration is getting involved.
"The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts 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 in an announcement Friday.
"While New York chooses to prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history and their deep connection to the state, it is requiring schools to divert time and resources away from what really matters: 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. We will investigate this matter fully."
The announcement of the investigation claims the Native American Guardian's Association (NAGA) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
The NAGA claims the New York Board of Regents is violating federal civil rights law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its Chiefs mascot based on its association with Native American culture.
"The Native American Guardian's Association stands firm in asserting that 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. We call on federal and state leaders to help us defend these dwindling expressions of our presence and contributions," said Frank Blackcloud, vice president of NAGA.
"Maintaining a respectable presence in NY State schools is vital to educational equity, historical truth and the civil rights of all American Indians."
The president of the Massapequa Board of Education is quoted in the announcement thanking Trump's administration for getting involved.
"We thank the Department of Education and the Trump Administration for standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community's proud history. We're especially grateful to the Native American Guardian's Association for its support and advocacy," Watcher said.
"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."
Trump previously spoke out in support of the school's right to maintain its name.
"I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population. The School Board, and virtually everyone in the area, are demanding the name be kept. It has become the School's identity and, what could be wrong with using the name, 'Chief'? I don't see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon! By copy of this TRUTH, I am asking my highly capable Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue. LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!"
Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hill
26 minutes ago
- The Hill
GOP senators place holds over tax credit guidance
Grassley, who recently engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Trump over the handling of judicial picks, announced his move to place the holds in the congressional record Friday. 'Today, I placed a hold on three Department of the Treasury nominees,' he said in the record, specifically naming Trump's picks for the department's general counsel, assistant secretary and undersecretary. The Iowa Republican added that while the 'big, beautiful, bill' recently passed by Congress allowed for wind and solar companies to continue to get tax credits if they begin construction of their projects in the next year, the Treasury Department 'is expected to issue rules and regulations implementing the agreed upon phase-out of the wind and solar credits by August 18, 2025.' 'Until I can be certain that such rules and regulations adhere to the law and congressional intent, I intend to continue to object to the consideration of these Treasury nominees,' Grassley said. Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) is also placing a hold on the same nominees — Brian Morrissey Jr., Francis Brooke and Jonathan McKernan — for the same reason, a source familiar told The Hill. After legislation to terminate the tax credits was passed, Trump signed an executive order that directed the Treasury to take a strict approach to limit which projects are eligible while they're still active.


Los Angeles Times
26 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Trump plans White House task force on security for the 2028 L.A. Olympics
WASHINGTON — President Trump will order the establishment of a White House task force on Tuesday focused on security for the Olympics Games in Los Angeles in 2028. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the president plans on creating the task force by executive order on Tuesday, telling The Times that Trump 'considers it a great honor to oversee this global sporting spectacle.' 'During his first term, President Trump was instrumental in securing America's bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles,' Leavitt said. 'Sports is one of President Trump's greatest passions, and his athletic expertise, combined with his unmatched hospitality experience will make these Olympic events the most exciting and memorable in history.' The executive order follows on Trump's signature legislation, referred to by the president as the 'big beautiful bill,' securing $1 billion for security, planning and other costs for the L.A. Games. Planning for the games is being led by the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, or LA28, a privately funded non-profit organization. Casey Wasserman, chairperson and president of LA28, thanked the Trump administration in a statement 'for their leadership and unwavering support as we prepare to deliver the largest and most ambitious Olympic and Paralympic Games ever hosted in the United States.' 'Since we secured this historic opportunity in 2017, President Trump has consistently recognized the magnitude of our responsibility in welcoming the world to Los Angeles,' Wasserman said. 'The creation of this task force marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028.'


Axios
26 minutes ago
- Axios
Brazil Supreme Court orders house arrest of ex-president Bolsonaro
Brazil's Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday as he awaits trial over an alleged coup plot to overturn his 2022 election loss, which the Trump ally denies. Why it matters: The move is likely to infuriate President Trump, who has demanded that Brazil drop criminal charges against Bolsonaro in a letter threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports. The U.S. Treasury Department last week imposed sanctions on the Brazilian judge leading the investigation into Bolsonaro. Driving the news: Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order after finding that Bolsonaro had failed to comply with "preventative measures" that the court imposed, which restricted the former president's social media use. The judge accused Bolsonaro of using allies including sons that contained "clear encouragement and incitement to attack the Supreme Federal Court, and overt support for foreign intervention in Brazil's judiciary." Bolsonaro was last month banned from using social media and ordered to wear an ankle bracelet.