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Trump administration refers Long Island school mascot case to federal prosecutors
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jun 18, 2025
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Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Jun 18, 2025
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A case involving a Long Island school district that refuses to drop its Native American mascot is now in the hands of federal prosecutors, the Trump administration announced Tuesday.
It’s the latest development in the administration’s effort to support the Massapequa School District, a conservative community in Nassau County, as it resists a New York state ban on Indigenous-themed team names and logos. Schools that don’t comply with the ban by this summer risk losing state funding.
The U.S. Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation last month into the state education department and Board of Regents. Federal Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Tuesday the probe found both entities violated federal anti-discrimination law.
When state officials declined a proposal that would let Massapequa keep its “Chiefs” name and imagery, the department referred the case to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The proposal included demands that New York rescind the mascot ban and issue a formal apology to tribes, acknowledging the policy had “silenced the voices of Native Americans and attempted to erase Native American history.”
“Both the New York Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal antidiscrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin,” McMahon said.
A Massapequa school district spokesperson framed the recent development as a major legal win in their ongoing battle with New York state, saying the district believes the state’s regulation is unconstitutional and discriminatory. The spokesperson said the district remains committed to keeping the “Chiefs” name.
A spokesperson for the state education department called the move “a farce from the outset.”
“To the extent that any investigation took place, it represents a blatant attempt to do a political favor for the Massapequa Board of Education,” said spokesperson JP O’Hare. “Our education communities, all of them, should reflect respect, not indolent symbolism masquerading as tradition.”
O’Hare said four districts have requested deadline extensions to comply with the ban.
Tagged
Politics
Race And Justice Unit
donald trump
education
long island
new york state
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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