Hope, Dievendorf Defend Lansing Schools, Question Politics of DOJ Investigation

LANSING, Mich., Feb. 19, 2026 — The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday that it has opened investigations into three Michigan public school districts, including the Lansing School District, to examine whether courses include sexual orientation and gender identity content and whether parents were properly notified.

In response, state Reps. Kara Hope (D-Holt) and Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) issued the following joint statement:

“We stand with the Lansing School District, its educators, and families in response to this federal investigation. Lansing schools work every day to support students and families while complying with state and federal law. When investigations are launched in ways that appear predetermined or driven by political agendas, they can disrupt classrooms, divert attention from learning, and create unnecessary anxiety for students and educators. They also risk compromising student privacy and the protection of sensitive personal information.

“This investigation does not exist in isolation. Nearly 70% of career attorneys have left the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division after its work was redirected to serve ideological and political aims. Civil rights enforcement is meant to protect students, not to scrutinize coursework that promotes understanding and respect. LGBTQIA+ students are entitled to the same safety, dignity, and belonging as every other learner. Fear, stigma, and exclusion has no place in our schools. We will continue to stand with Lansing schools and demand federal actions that are responsible, professional, and centered on students’ well-being.”

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