Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho found himself at the center of a sweeping federal law enforcement action Wednesday, as FBI agents executed court-authorized search warrants at multiple properties connected to him.
Authorities conducted searches at both Carvalho’s home in San Pedro, California, and his office at LAUSD headquarters, according to multiple reports. A separate search was also carried out at a Miami property tied to Carvalho, who previously served 14 years as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools before taking the helm of the nation’s second-largest school district in 2022.
While the visible law enforcement presence raised immediate questions, federal officials have so far remained tight-lipped about the reason behind the searches. An affidavit supporting the warrants was filed but remains under seal, leaving the public without answers about what prompted the dramatic action.
The FBI’s Los Angeles field office confirmed the searches in a brief statement: “We can confirm that the FBI is serving a court-authorized warrant at those locations. However, the affidavit in support of the warrant has been sealed by the court and we, therefore, have no further comment.”
According to local FOX affiliate FOX11, employees were evacuated from district offices as federal agents conducted their search. Drone footage captured by local news outlets showed multiple FBI agents entering and exiting the properties, some carrying boxes from the premises — a striking scene for a district that oversees hundreds of thousands of students.
Carvalho, a prominent education figure in both Florida and California, has led LAUSD during a period of intense political and policy debates. Now, the federal investigation — though its focus remains unclear — adds another layer of uncertainty to leadership at a district already navigating major challenges.
Complicating matters further is an ongoing legal battle involving LAUSD and the Trump administration. President Donald Trump’s administration recently joined a lawsuit against the district alleging racial discrimination in the allocation of school resources.
The lawsuit, filed by the 1776 Project Foundation, claims that LAUSD uses a race-based designation known as “PHBAO,” which stands for Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other non-Anglo. According to the complaint, schools bearing that label receive funding considerations and resources that schools without the designation — meaning predominantly white schools — often do not.
The Department of Justice further asserts that students from “PHBAO” schools receive preferential treatment when applying to transfer into magnet programs, raising concerns about whether race is being used as a factor in ways that disadvantage certain students.
At this stage, federal authorities have not indicated whether the searches of Carvalho’s properties are connected to the discrimination lawsuit or whether the investigation centers specifically on his actions as superintendent.
With the affidavit sealed and officials declining further comment, many questions remain unanswered. What is clear, however, is that the federal raids have placed one of the country’s most powerful school district leaders under an intense spotlight — and the unfolding investigation is likely to draw continued scrutiny in the days ahead.
