WASHINGTON — The federal Department of Education launched a “race-based discrimination” probe Friday into New York state officials after President Trump rallied to the defense of a Long Island school district’s “Massapequa Chiefs” nickname, The Post has learned.
The investigation will review whether the Board of Regents of the New York Department of Education is violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race and national origin by recipients of federal funds, with its ban on schools using Native American names and imagery.
“The US 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,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
“While New York chooses to prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history, and their deep connection the state, it is requiring schools to divert time and resources away from what really matters: educating our students,” McMahon said.
“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 investigation comes after the Native American Guardians Association — a North Dakota-based advocacy group — filed a complaint with the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights alleging that New York officials were violating federal law.
The association, which has defended professional sports teams and other schools with tribal names and logos, said that New York “is solely targeting Native American groups and images by attempting to eliminate them from athletic contests” and that “[t]he decision to single out Native Americans as a class of people that cannot be represented in public school imagery is per se discriminatory.”
Frank Blackcloud, vice president of NAGA, said the state policy contributes to “dwindling expressions or our presence and contributions” to American history.
State officials say the policy, adopted in 2023, is intended to combat stereotypes and have threatened to withhold funds for schools in Massapequa, whose school board is fighting the requirement in court.
A judge ruled last month against the Massapequa board — but the federal review, in turn, could result in the withholding of funds to the state if it doesn’t back down.
Trump dove into the controversy Monday, writing on social media: “I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School. Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population.”
The president added: “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!”
Kerry Watcher, president of the Massapequa Board of Education, praised the feds for stepping in.
“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,” Watcher said.
“We’re especially grateful to the Native American Guardians Association for their support and advocacy. 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.”
The New York State Education Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
