U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has issued a stern ultimatum to New York State: rescind the ban on Native American school mascots or face federal consequences. Despite a 2023 state directive requiring schools to retire Native American imagery, Republicans have seized on this issue as evidence of Democratic overreach and misplaced priorities. Does the mascot honor Native American heritage?
Federal Intervention Escalates Mascot Battle
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon delivered a blunt message during her visit to Massapequa High School: New York has ten days to withdraw its ban on Native American mascots or face a Department of Justice civil rights investigation. The Trump administration official claimed the state’s policy violates Title VI of federal civil rights law by discriminating against Native American mascots while allowing other ethnic-based names like “Dutchmen” and “Huguenots.”
McMahon’s ultimatum represents the highest-profile intervention yet in the ongoing dispute that began when New York’s Board of Regents ordered schools to retire Native American mascots in 2023. “The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes,” McMahon declared during her appearance alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
The Trump Admin stands with the people of Massapequa. We will not allow New York officials to erase the history of our Native American tribes.
Go Chiefs! pic.twitter.com/2LX4vhiw9s
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) May 30, 2025
Republicans Frame Issue as Democratic Overreach
Republicans have enthusiastically embraced the mascot controversy as evidence that Democrats are out of touch with everyday concerns. GOP pollster John McLaughlin criticized state officials for focusing on mascots rather than improving education, noting “We have a lot of chiefs in volunteer fire departments in New York.”
The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee is leveraging the issue to target vulnerable Democratic incumbents in upcoming elections. “It’s another day that ends in ‘y,’ so obviously Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen’s Democrat Party is more concerned with demonizing a high school mascot than lowering taxes and costs for Long Island families,” said NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole.
💪🏾💪🏾EDUCATE NOT ERADICATE💪🏾💪🏾 NAGA shoulder to shoulder with the Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon at Massapequa Chiefs High School to fight for our Native names and imagery! @LaNativePatriot @kilmeade @EDSecMcMahon
Thug Adams Substack Below:… pic.twitter.com/cV0Q0lqCsF
— Native American Guardians Association (@GuardiansNative) May 30, 2025
Community Divided Along Cultural Lines
The controversy has exposed deep divisions about cultural representation and respect. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Trump ally who coordinated McMahon’s visit, has been adamant that the mascot honors Native American heritage, stating, “They’re trying to change our culture, and we’re not having it.”
Indigenous residents and organizations tell a different story, with local Native American Adam Drexler dismissing the Native American Guardians Association members who support keeping the mascot as “Native Americans for hire.” The National Congress of American Indians has consistently opposed such mascots, arguing they perpetuate harmful stereotypes rather than genuine cultural appreciation.
New York education officials dismissed McMahon’s visit as “political theater” and criticized Massapequa for not consulting local tribes. The state policy does provide an exemption path for schools that gain approval from a recognized local Native American tribe, but Massapequa officials have not pursued this option despite the town’s name deriving from a Lenape word.
Democrats contend Republicans are weaponizing the mascot issue to distract from more substantive matters. Governor Hochul’s administration has distanced itself from the controversy, noting the decision came from the independent State Education Department, while Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs accused Republicans of deflecting attention from their unpopular policies.
With Governor Hochul already facing a 55% unfavorable rating in Long Island suburbs, the mascot battle adds another dimension to the region’s political landscape. As the ten-day deadline approaches, both sides appear entrenched in their positions, transforming a local school symbol into a flashpoint for broader cultural and political tensions that will likely influence upcoming electoral contests throughout New York.