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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • What's changed since January's devastating fires
    A wide shot of the coastline showing a long row of destroyed homes and the beach right next to it.
    A view of beachside homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway on January 16, 2025 in Malibu.

    Topline:

    The most destructive fires in L.A. County history erupted six months ago today, killing at least 30 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures, mostly homes, and reshaping the region in ways large and small.

    Where things stand: Instead of January's landscape of chimneys and staircases rising from rubble, today empty dirt lots extend block after block in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. A handful of survivors have broken ground on rebuilds. Thousands remain displaced. For most, the emotional pain remains all too present.

    Keep reading... for more on what's changed — and what hasn't — since January's devastation.

    The most destructive fires in L.A. County history erupted six months ago today, killing at least 30 people and destroying more than 16,000 structures, mostly homes, and reshaping the region in ways large and small.

    Instead of January's landscape of chimneys and staircases rising from rubble, today empty dirt lots extend block after block in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades.

    A handful of people who survived the Eaton and Palisades fires have broken ground on rebuilds. Many remain displaced. Still others decided to move on, restart their lives elsewhere. For most, the emotional pain remains all too present.

    How much can change in six months. And how little.

    Here's where things stand.

    Recovery by the numbers 

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has cleared debris from more than 9,000 lots in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn zones.

    Ninety-seven percent of properties in the Eaton Fire zone have been cleared, and 87% in the Palisades Fire burn zone, according to the Army Corps progress tracker. Nearly 1,000 properties that opted out of the government debris removal program still need to be cleared.

    A drive through Altadena in late June shows block after block of cleared, empty lots.
    (
    Erin Stone
    /
    LAist
    )

    The Eaton cleanup has moved faster in part because the area affected by the Palisades Fire had more properties that were challenging to get to, said Army Corps Col. Eric Swenson.

    " In some cases we have individuals on rappel lines, hand-collecting debris down the side of a mountain," Swenson said.

    Swenson added that the homes that burned in the Palisades Fire were also larger on average and required more time to clear.

    A man wearing a white safety suit clears debris by hand from a hillside property that burned in a fire.
    Crews remove wildfire debris on hillside property, June 27 in Pacific Palisades. Using a rope descent systems to safely maneuver on the rugged slopes, personnel are removing debris by hand in areas too dangerous for heavy equipment.
    (
    Charles Delano
    /
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    )

    He estimates that all Army Corps-led debris removal will be done by mid-summer.

    That progress means that the staging areas for debris are in the process of winding down: The Altadena Golf Course, which had drawn concern from neighboring residents about pollution from the site, stopped accepting new waste on July 1, Swenson said. He estimated the golf course would be turned back over in December.

    Two signs posted on a patch of dirt one reads "This property's Hazardous Materials removal is COMPLETE" and "California Wildfires Response Debris Removal Support" which lists an address and pin number.
    A sign at an Altadena property showing that it was cleared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    (
    Brian Feinzimer
    /
    LAist
    )

    Temescal Canyon Road, where debris was being processed for the Palisades Fire, stopped accepting new material in May and will be turned over to the community in mid-August.

    More rebuild permits

    With lots now cleared, more survivors are working to select architects and building contractors, while filling out the mounds of paperwork they need approved before they can start rebuilding their homes.

    About a quarter of the nearly 400 rebuild permits applied for by property owners in the Pacific Palisades have been approved, according to L.A. city’s department of building and safety.

    In Altadena, about 5% of more than 900 rebuild permits submitted have been approved, according to L.A. County.

    A drive through the Pacific Palisades in mid June.
    (
    Erin Stone
    /
    LAist
    )

    One reason for the difference is that the city of L.A. has waived permitting fees and taken other actions to streamline the permitting process in the Palisades, including approving “like-for-like” rebuilds within 30 days. As an unincorporated community, Altadena residents have to work with the county’s planning, fire and public works departments that are already stretched thin.

    The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has taken similar actions to expedite the permitting process but only recently approved a motion brought by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to defer and refund permit fees. The turnaround time for approval is on average about 50 business days, according to the county’s tracker, but the goal is to reduce that to 30 days.

    “I want to see our planning department move with a sense of urgency, not be bureaucratic, something that I continue to struggle with," Barger told LAist.

    Still, Kerjon Lee with the county's public works department said the turnaround time is significantly lower than average permit approval time of 158 days under normal circumstances.

    Lee said a common issue they're seeing is that applications are often missing key signatures and details, especially for "like-for-like" rebuild projects that add an accessory dwelling unit.

    Steve Gibson, who lost his home of 24 years in Altadena, is one of the hundreds of residents waiting for a decision from the county. He and his wife have already selected a prefab housing contractor and rebuild design for their new home.

    A tintype image of a man and woman standing beside each other holding hands on a dirt lot. The woman has light shoulder length hair and bangs and light skin and wears a dark colored dress. The man has brown skin and wears a hat, white collared shirt and dark pants.
    Steve Gibson and his wife Charlotte stand on the cleared lot of their home of 24 years that burned down in the Eaton Fire. The Army Corps cleared their property in June.
    (
    Sunny Mills
    )

    Gibson said the wait time and permitting fees were hurdles that have slowed the rebuild process in his neighborhood.

    “The permit fees to rebuild a house are a huge amount of money and a huge process,” Gibson said. “And we feel the same problem in other areas, that we're not getting responsiveness to our urgent needs in Altadena.”

    Insurance woes continue

    Like many, Gibson is trying to rebuild while still completing the inventory of every single thing that he and his wife lost in the fire — from family heirlooms and photos to art, clothes and furniture — in order to receive their insurance payment. When they fled the fire, they were only able to grab their passports, insurance papers and small dog, Cantinflas.

    They received half of what their insurance plan says it can cover for the loss of personal property, and need to complete their inventory to argue for the rest.

    That inventory, he said, is a constant pain point for him and many fellow survivors.

    “ We all feel like it's the hardest thing in our lives,” Gibson said. “It's an emotional rollercoaster. It's hard to remember, it's painful to remember and it feels like a tragedy. I said to one of my neighbors — we need emotional counseling after having to go through putting together an inventory.”

    We all feel like it's the hardest thing in our lives...It's hard to remember, it's painful to remember.
    — Steve Gibson, Eaton Fire survivor, on the insurance requirement to complete an inventory of all property lost in the fires

    Gibson’s insurance provider, Allstate, did provide a full payout to cover rebuilding their home. But Gibson said that the amount is still more than $100,000 short of what they need. A $50,000 Small Business Administration loan will help, Gibson said, but many of his neighbors are facing the same gap between rebuild costs and insurance payouts — a common barrier to rebuilding.

    “We decided to go for it kind of on a leap of faith that we will be able to cover the differences,” Gibson said.

    Palisades Fire survivor Darragh Danton calls the divide between insurance payouts and rebuild costs “the gap.”

    She said she and her neighbors are talking about solutions such as group rates on materials, and working together as a community to rebuild to keep costs down. They’ve already paid a land surveyor as a neighborhood for a reduced rate, she said.

    Palisades resident Jill Lawrence’s home survived, but she said fighting her insurance company to clean it up has been a disaster in and of itself.

    She said her house is still full of lead and other toxic soot — she and her husband did their own testing initially and months later their insurance company came out to test, too, finding even worse levels of lead.

    Still, the house hasn’t been cleaned up. Lawrence said she's spending 15 or 20 hours a week negotiating her insurance. Meanwhile, she and her husband are living in a rental in Playa del Rey.

    “ It's just weird to me six months later that my house is still standing in soot and ash, and it's really because of the insurance companies," she said. “It's crazy to me."

     It's just weird to me six months later that my house is still standing in soot and ash, and it's really because of the insurance companies.
    — Jill Lawrence, whose Palisades home survived the fire, but remains unlivable

    The fact so many people are dealing with the same insurance issues has sparked new waves of policy efforts by state leaders, but it may come too late for the latest round of fire survivors.

    For example, one bill currently moving through the California legislature would eliminate the inventory requirement in the case of a total loss and require a full insurance payout. The state insurance commissioner has also launched efforts to reform the insurance industry and an investigation into State Farm smoke damage claims.

    Renters are struggling

    Renters have also faced daunting challenges since January — often with even less support than homeowners.

    Maribel Marin, the executive director of the emergency helpline 211 LA, said the nonprofit is working with more than 3,000 households affected by the fires, and that the majority of them are renters.

    " They're experiencing rental rates that are two or three times that for the same level of housing that they had before," Marin said. "It's really, really tough to find housing, especially affordable housing."

    A shot of empty dirt lots of a former mobile home park overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Palisades on a sunny day.
    The site of a former mobile home park in Pacific Palisades in mid June. Many Palisades and Eaton Fire survivors are facing the loss of affordable housing and unable to make ends meet in a brutal housing market.
    (
    Erin Stone
    /
    LAist
    )

    Finding housing continues to be the biggest need for displaced renters, Marin said.

    Hundreds are still in temporary and insecure housing, with more than 100 families living in their vehicles, according to data from 211 L.A.

    Marin said close to 250 households are living in temporary AirBnBs — a service paid for by the vacation rental company.

    Looking ahead

    Lawsuits from fire survivors are moving forward as the causes of the fires continue to be investigated.

    Evidence shows the Eaton Fire was likely caused by Southern California Edison equipment. Trials related to that fire should only take a few weeks, but because there are so many, it will likely be years before many plaintiffs see their cases closed, said Amanda Riddle, managing partner of Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle LLP, and the court-appointed co-liaison counsel for all individual plaintiffs in the Eaton Fire case.

    “Not all 10,000 households are going to have a trial at the same time,” Riddle said.

    Residents have until Jan. 7, 2028, to join a lawsuit for damages caused by the fires.

    Another big milestone that everyone from government agencies to lawyers are waiting for: an independent review of the evacuation policies and emergency alert notification systems used by the county during the Eaton and Palisades fires.

    The “after action report” is being compiled by the McChrystal Group. The first progress report is expected to be released this summer, but the full review will likely take longer.

    Emotional toll remains fresh

    With so much left unresolved, the emotional toll remains as fresh as ever for many survivors six months after the fires.

    “It is ever present, so it does feel like it just happened yesterday,” said Robin Hughes, who lost her home in Altadena. “The passage of time is so muddled, and there's just so much to do with my own personal rebuild, supporting the rebuild of Altadena. It does feel like it's been this long, extended day.”

    On the fence of a home a red sign reads "Beautiful Altadena/ The rose will bloom again."
    A message of hope is hung from the gates of a home in an Altadena neighborhood on Jan. 30, 2025.
    (
    Julie Leopo
    /
    LAist
    )

    For Gibson, the experience of losing his home lurks behind every conversation.

    “ I have a hard time talking to people about it,” Gibson said. “What should I say? Should I express how angry I am about things or should I just say everything's fine? I'm realizing now that's a real struggle.”

    For most, their biggest allies have been fellow survivors.

    “Many of us who went through the fire believe that people can't understand it if you haven't,” Gibson said. “It's really hard to understand the feelings that come with that, how it changes your life.”

    Join us on July 9 at a special live event with LAist climate and environment reporter Erin Stone. She'll talk with survivors of previous fires as well as other experts to learn what to expect as the recovery process continues.

  • Here’s your guide from LAist
    tbd
    LAist reporter Julia Barajas interviews Maria Monares, a longtime resident of East Los Angeles, about odor issues in the area.

    Topline:

    Whether you’re looking to connect with a reporter or have an interview coming up, here’s a cheat sheet to help you talk with journalists, including our staff from LAist.

    Why it matters: Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.

    Read on... for our cheat sheet on how to talk with journalists.

    LAist reports on local issues for — and with — communities across Southern California, but chances are most readers have never spoken with a journalist before. Your stories and experiences power our reporting, so it’s important that people know what to expect when they speak with a reporter.

    That’s what this guide is for.

    Below are some tips from our newsroom on what to keep in mind when talking to a journalist.

    Remember: You are the expert on your own life

    Tell the story you want to tell about yourself.

    Be honest. Truthfulness and facts are central to journalistic ethics.

    Also know your worth. Reporters come to you for a reason. They may be intimidating because they have a mic or a camera, but you have a perspective they need. Media outlets also want to expand their audiences, and that includes you.

    Common questions

    How can I get a journalist’s attention?

    Contact reporters by social media or send them a personal email — at LAist, contact information is available on our staff page. If you meet a reporter, get their business card. It will usually have a direct phone number to talk with them.

    Will all my words be published?

    Probably not. Journalists are often working with a limited word count or air time. They will likely use one short sound bite or quote from you. It’s also possible they will not use your interview at all. Reporters and their editors decide what will get published.

    Can I see a copy of the story before it's published?

    Probably not. It is against journalistic ethics to have sources review a story before it’s published. Imagine if a journalist were to do a piece about government corruption. You wouldn’t want the government agency to review the story and edit it. Editors review stories for accuracy.

    When will the story be published?

    It depends on the type of story. Some stories are short and may air on the radio or be published online the same day you talk to the reporter. Other times a reporter might work on a story for several weeks or months. It’s OK to follow up with the reporter who talked to you and ask when the story might be done and ask them to let you know where you can read or hear it.

    Can I speak with a fact-checker?

    You are welcome to ask reporters about their fact-checking process or how they make sure a story is accurate. Not all outlets have fact-checkers. If the story is an investigative story or a long-form or magazine format, designated fact-checkers are more common. At LAist, reporters and editors are responsible for verifying information.

    What if I am asked about something that makes me feel uncomfortable?

    Your story is your own and during an interview you have full control over what you say to a reporter. Answer questions in any way that makes you feel most comfortable, and you can always decline to answer a question.

    What do I do if a reporter asks me about my immigration status?

    You don't have to disclose your immigration status to a reporter. If it's directly relevant to the story, a trustworthy reporter will explain that and also tell you how they'd handle the information. You can decline to answer.

    How do I determine if the newsroom I'm speaking with has a specific point of view?

    It's a great question and relates directly to media literacy — meaning how well you can spot misinformation, disinformation and bias. The reality is that we all have points of view. Here are some tools to check on where a publication falls across the political spectrum:

    • FAIR's (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting), which describes itself as a "progressive media watchdog group" has this media literacy guide.
    • PEW Research Center, which describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan nonadvocacy organization, has information on sources most popular with different political perspectives
    • You should be able to find information on who funds the work on the site (corporations, individual owners, subscribers, members and so on).
    • You can also check out this interactive chart tracking media outlets across the political spectrum (note that you may need a paid version to search smaller outlets). Ad Fontes Media, which describes itself as a "public benefit corporation" which they said means they are "a for-profit business with a stated public mission," has been publishing its analysis since 2018.

    Is everything I say usable in a story?

    You can come to an agreement with reporters ahead of the conversation about how your words can be used:

    • “On the record”: This means that everything you say in your conversation with the journalist can be quoted, published and attributed back to you. By default, you should assume any exchange you have with a journalist is on the record unless you mutually agree otherwise. 
    • “On background”: This means that you are sharing information with a journalist that can be referenced in a story, but is not directly attributed to you. 
    • “Off the record”: This means that you are sharing information that is not for publication. People may share experiences or tips off the record if they want the journalist to be aware of the information but don’t want it mentioned in a story. Remember that “off the record” only counts if both you and the journalist agree to it. 

    It's worth noting that different newsrooms may use these terms slightly differently. You should confirm with the reporter that you have as shared understanding of the meaning.

    Do I need to pay to be in a news story? Can I get paid?

    No and no. You will not pay or get paid to be in a news story because this is against journalistic ethics. Anyone who receives payment for a story could be swayed to bend the truth.

    What if the reporter gets my story wrong?

    If you feel that the reporter misrepresented your story, you can ask for a correction or an update to clarify a point. Reporters want to get the story right and they don't want to incorrect or misleading information to go unchecked. That said, corrections deal with information that is factually incorrect, so you should be ready to explain what was wrong and why. Under California law, you have 20 days to demand a correction and the publisher has to respond within a set period of time.

    How can I prepare for an interview?

    Think about the main points you want to get across in your interview. What are the most critical things for the reporter to know? Some people like to organize their thoughts into three major points. If you are not used to telling your story, you may want to have a friend ask you some questions to practice. Depending on the story, a reporter may also ask if you have any pictures to share that they can use to help tell the story.

    Get involved with LAist

    Ask LAist reporters questions

    You can reach out to LAist reporters through the contact information listed on their bios. All our editorial staff, including the teams reporting, editing and producing news, are listed here.

    How else you can be a part of LAist's reporting

    Aside from contacting journalists directly, you can share your story with LAist through short surveys and meeting us in person. Learn more here.

    This guide was originally written by former LAist early childhood producer Stefanie Ritoper, with contributions from Mariana Dale. Cato Hernández and David Rodriguez also contributed to this guide. 

  • Sponsored message
  • The most LA collab you'll see all year
     A bamboo steamer basket of birria XLB soup dumplings with red and golden-hued wrappers, with Burritos La Palma branded packaging, fresh cilantro, dried chilies, serrano peppers and a bowl of red salsa visible in the background.
    The Birria XLB, a limited-edition collab between Paradise Dynasty and Burritos La Palma, available starting May 11.

    Topline:

    Paradise Dynasty and Burritos La Palma have teamed up on a limited-edition Birria XLB — birria de res folded into a soup dumpling skin.

    Why it matters: Two of the defining food obsessions of the past decade in Southern California — birria and XLB — are meeting in one bite, and the collab feels less like a gimmick and more like a natural expression of how L.A.'s Asian and Latino food cultures have always cross-pollinated.

    Why now: The Birria XLB drops publicly May 11 at Paradise Dynasty's South Coast Plaza and Americana at Brand locations.

    File this under things that could only happen in L.A.

    Paradise Dynasty, the Singapore-based chain known for its signature eight-flavor xiao long bao, has teamed up with Burritos La Palma — the SoCal burrito institution whose birria de res recipe traces back over 45 years — to create a limited-edition birria soup dumpling. The Birria XLB will be available starting Monday (May 11) for a limited time at Paradise Dynasty locations.

    I've eaten my weight in both soup dumplings and burritos, so naturally, I'm a fan of both.

    Paradise Dynasty has been on a steady ascent as a major player in L.A.'s dumpling scene, with locations at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.

    Meanwhile, Burritos La Palma — known for its simple, savory burritos and finely crafted flour tortillas — has been capturing hearts and stomachs since Alberto Bañuelos opened the first eatery in L.A. in 2012. It’s since grown to several spots across L.A. and Orange County, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand award in 2024 for its high-quality, Zacatecan-style handmade flour tortilla burritos at an affordable price.

    How the collab came together

    So what exactly is a birria soup dumpling? A delicate wrapper, lightly packed with tender birria de res — slow-braised beef stewed in chilies and spices — juicy, savory and gone in one bite.

    It all began with a call from Paradise Dynasty, when Jason Kuo, district manager for Paradise Dynasty USA, reached out to Bañuelos, calling it, simply, a perfect match between the two dishes.

    Kuo said the idea came straight from the community.

    "When we started asking guests and people around us what flavor they would want to see in a soup dumpling, birria kept coming up again and again — it was very clear. If we're going to do birria, it has to be done right. Burritos La Palma was the first name that came to mind."

    Bañuelos was "beyond thrilled" to have been approached.

    "We come from a small town in Mexico, and to be able to elevate to the level of Paradise Dynasty and that culinary perfection, I can't even really put it into words," he said.

    It took months of R&D to get the right consistency. Bañuelos said the process required dialing down the moisture and upping the spice potency and landed on serving a fresh red salsa with thin slivers of serrano peppers alongside — a riff on the black vinegar and pickled ginger traditionally served with soup dumplings.

    A birria XLB soup dumpling held by chopsticks above a bowl of red salsa, with a drop of birria broth falling from the dumpling against a dark background.
    The Birria XLB's juicy interior is part of what makes it work — the dish is served with a fresh, tomato-based salsa and slivers of serrano pepper in place of the traditional black vinegar and pickled ginger.
    (
    Katrina Frederick
    /
    Courtesy Paradise Dynasty
    )

    How it tastes

    I got a chance to try the dumplings ahead of the public launch and was struck by how well the combination worked. The juicy nature of birria is almost turbocharged in dumpling form, its savory, herbaceous flavors fully encapsulated in the thin skin, creating an exceptional texture in every bite. The dish hits even harder when dipped in the light tomato-based salsa — a rush of freshness that cuts through the richness, with a spike of heat from fresh serrano. (Feel free to skip the peppers if spice isn't your thing.)

    But what's most impressive is how organic it all feels. This isn't fusion for fusion's sake — it's a natural meeting of two dishes that are deeply embedded in the Southern California diet, each playing to the other's strengths.

    It feels like a logical meeting of the minds — birria and soup dumplings have both been part of L.A.'s culinary zeitgeist for the better part of a decade, and it makes sense that these worlds should collide.

    When asked whether a collaboration like this could happen anywhere else, Bañuelos was quick: "It has to start in L.A. You just can't compete."

    Where to try it

    Paradise Dynasty locations

    You can try Birria XLB at:

    South Coast Plaza

    Address: 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa (Near Bloomingdales)
    Phone: (714) 617-4630

    The Americana at Brand

    Address: 177 Caruso Ave, Glendale
    Phone: (858) 351-4177

  • House Dems demand answers on federal treatment
    A large building is at a distance across a large lawn and shown through a metal fence, which is slightly out of focus in the foreground.
    A gated building at Urban Strategies, a facility that holds unaccompanied minor immigrants under contract with the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, in San Benito, Texas.

    Topline:

    Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody.

    Why now: They signed a letter last week, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.

    How we got here: The letter comes in the wake of an investigation by the California and Texas Newsrooms, public media collaboratives in those states. LAist is part of The California Newsroom.
    The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health researchers interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.

    Nine Democratic House members from California are demanding information about how the Trump administration is treating unaccompanied migrant children who are pregnant and in federal custody. They’ve signed a letter, along with 39 other House Democrats, to Trump officials expressing their concern that the girls are not receiving adequate medical care or access to abortion.

    The letter comes in the wake of an investigation by the California and Texas Newsrooms, public media collaboratives in those states. LAist is part of The California Newsroom.

    The joint investigation found that the federal government is detaining pregnant migrant girls in a single group home in South Texas. Doctors and reproductive-health experts interviewed for the investigation said prenatal care is severely limited in that region.

    The letter says the detention violates federal regulations because the children are “entitled to the full range of medical care, including reproductive health care.”

    Rep. Gil Cisneros, who represents the central San Gabriel Valley, says he worries that pregnant migrants who are apprehended in California will be put at risk if they’re sent to a part of Texas that is short on obstetric care. Of particularly concern: High-risk pregnancies are common among minors.

    “If they were in California," he said, "they would be able to have more choices of the type of health care that they would get when it comes to reproductive health care.”

    Rep. Judy Chu, who represents the West San Gabriel Valley, wrote in a statement that “this administration is so intent on restricting abortion that it is using immigration detention as a tool to control these girls’ bodies.”

    Mark Betancourt is a regular contributor to The California Newsroom

  • Feds investigate employee misconduct policy
    A student in a red hoodie walks by a yellow school bus.
    The Trump administration has announced a Title IX investigation into LAUSD.

    Topline:

    The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.

    Why now: The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teacher’s union.

    The district’s policy: A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites. “‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.

    LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff. The 110-page document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.

    What's next: The Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating whether the district’s policy violates Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The Trump administration has also recently targeted LAUSD's desegregation policy and transgender student protections.

    The U.S. Department of Education is investigating how the Los Angeles Unified School District responds to educators accused of sexual misconduct with students.

    The department accuses the district of maintaining a policy that “automatically” reassigns teachers to other schools when they are accused of sexual misconduct with students and cites a 2024 agreement with the teachers union.

    A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson wrote in a statement that it’s “not true” that staff being investigated for sexual misconduct are reassigned to other school sites.

    “‘Reassignment’ typically means an employee is directed to remain at home and away from students and schools during an investigation,” the spokesperson wrote.

    United Teachers Los Angeles called the DOE's accusations a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the district’s reassignment policy.

    “[Employees] are not reassigned to another classroom or to any other setting where they would interact with students,” read a statement provided by the union. “This policy protects both students and staff and creates conditions for a thorough and appropriate investigation of allegations.”

    What to expect from the federal investigation

    The federal investigation, overseen by the department’s Office for Civil Rights, will assess whether the district’s policy violates Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

    Kimberly Richey, the assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a statement that Title IX requires schools to address claims of sexual misconduct in a “timely manner.”

    “It is unconscionable that the district would simply ignore Title IX’s procedural requirements to protect teachers who cause life-changing harm to their kids,” Richey wrote. “The Trump administration will always fight to uphold the law, protect the safety of all students and restore common sense to our schools.”

    The Trump administration also has recently targeted LAUSD's desegregation policy and transgender student protections.

    Last year, the office failed to resolve any cases related to sexual harassment, sexual violence or racial harassment, according to a report released by Sen. Bernie Sanders in late April. Sanders is the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.

    In March 2025, the Trump administration pushed to cut over half of OCR’s nearly 600 staff members, which contributed to a growing backlog of cases. Those employees were placed on administrative leave pending the result of legal challenges, and many were later brought back.

    The Education Department has also withheld records related to civil rights investigations, prompting a lawsuit from investigative nonprofit newsroom ProPublica.

    What does LAUSD’s policy say? 

    LAUSD protocol related to employee misconduct says administrators must remove accused employees from their classroom or worksite whenever there is a risk to the safety of students or staff.

    The 110-page protocol document also lists several other requirements for allegations related to sexual misconduct, including contacting law enforcement and the agencies that license teachers.

    “Los Angeles Unified takes all allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment with the utmost seriousness,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement. “Our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of every student and staff member in our care.” The statement also said the district follows Title IX procedures and continuously reviews its policies, training and reporting systems.

    The UTLA settlement outlines several circumstances where an employee can be reassigned, including a law enforcement investigation of misconduct, sexual harassment of a student, behavior toward a student perceived to be motivated by a sexual interest and communicating with a student for non-school-related purposes.

    School employees are “mandated reporters” who must, by law, notify local law enforcement or child welfare agencies of suspected child abuse or neglect. California Attorney General Rob Bonta reminded K-12 school district leaders in late April of their legal obligation to prevent sexual misconduct and protect students.

    How prevalent is sexual misconduct in California schools?

    There have been few comprehensive studies of sexual misconduct in schools. A 2004 report to the Department of Education estimated 1-in-10 students experiences sexual misconduct, ranging from inappropriate comments to physical abuse.

    A new California law requires schools to train students and staff to recognize and report misconduct and write new policies on “appropriate behavior.” It also will create a new database of educators credibly accused of abuse.

    More than 1,000 lawsuits related to sexual abuse that date to the 1940s have been filed against California school districts since the enactment of a 2019 law that gave victims a three-year window to sue.

    LAUSD has authorized $750 million in bonds to pay for sexual misconduct settlements related to suits stemming from the law.