By Trendsetter Tribune 
LOS ANGELES — Federal agents sent shockwaves through the nation’s second-largest school district on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, executing synchronized search warrants at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters and the San Pedro home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. The raids, which included a third location in Southwest Ranches, Florida, represent a dramatic escalation of federal interest in the district’s leadership.
While the FBI confirmed the “law enforcement activity,” the specific nature of the investigation remains a mystery as the underlying affidavits are currently under a court-ordered seal.
The Morning Raids: L.A. to Miami
The operation began early Wednesday morning, catching neighbors and many district employees by surprise.
- San Pedro, CA: FBI agents in tactical jackets were seen entering Carvalho’s home as early as 6:00 a.m. Neighbors reported being told to stay inside their homes while agents removed boxes of evidence.
- Downtown Los Angeles: At the Beaudry Avenue headquarters, some employees were asked to leave the building as agents began their search of the executive offices.
- Broward County, FL: A residence in Southwest Ranches—linked to Carvalho’s time as the longtime chief of Miami-Dade Public Schools—was also searched and cleared by mid-morning.
Potential Areas of Inquiry
While federal officials have not filed charges, the raids occur against a backdrop of several high-profile legal and financial controversies involving the district:
- Proposition 28 Allegations: A recent civil lawsuit accuses LAUSD of misusing $76.7 million in voter-approved arts and music funding to cover existing staff salaries rather than hiring new teachers as required.
- The “Ed” Chatbot Scandal: The district is facing scrutiny over a $3 million AI chatbot system. The vendor, AllHere, collapsed shortly after the rollout, and its CEO currently faces criminal fraud charges.
- Miami-Era Legacy: During his tenure in Florida, a 2021 Inspector General report flagged the misallocation of $6 million earmarked for special education and raised concerns about the “appearance of impropriety” regarding a nonprofit foundation.
Tensions with the Trump Administration
The raids are the second major action taken by the Department of Justice against LAUSD in just one week.
- Feb 19, 2026: The Trump administration officially joined a lawsuit alleging that LAUSD’s desegregation policies—specifically smaller class sizes at certain schools—discriminate against white students.
- Immigration “Safe Zones”: Carvalho has been an outspoken critic of federal immigration tactics. In late 2025, he established “safe zones” to shield students from ICE agents, at one point calling the actions of federal officers “despicable” after they reportedly entered campus grounds.
Official Responses
In a brief statement, LAUSD confirmed it was “cooperating with the investigation” but declined to provide further details. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted that the school district operates independently of city government and stated her office had no prior information about the warrants.
“I will put my job on the line easily… in protection of our students.” — Superintendent Alberto Carvalho (Sept 2025)