Federal Agents Raid LAUSD Superintendent Carvalho’s Home and Headquarters
Los Angeles, Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
Federal agents executed simultaneous search warrants at the home and offices of LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. While the investigation’s scope remains sealed, the probe extends to a property in Florida, signaling a significant federal inquiry into the leadership of the nation’s second-largest school system.
Operational Details of the Multi-State Raid
The law enforcement operation commenced early Wednesday morning, with FBI agents swarming the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters and Carvalho’s residence in the San Pedro neighborhood, approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles [2][6]. Witnesses reported seeing federal agents wearing blue raid jackets removing cardboard boxes from the superintendent’s home, while staff members at the district headquarters were seen shuffling in and out of the building amidst a heavy media presence [1][3]. The investigation appears to be coordinated across state lines; simultaneous to the Los Angeles activity, agents executed a search warrant at a property in Southwest Ranches, Florida, located in Broward County [6]. Carvalho previously led the Miami-Dade County Public Schools from 2008 to 2021 before taking the helm at LAUSD in February 2022 [3][6].
Judicial Secrecy and Financial Scrutiny
The specific allegations triggering these warrants remain opaque due to the judicial sealing of the supporting affidavits [1]. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles confirmed that the searches were judicially approved but declined to provide further comment on the nature of the probe [1][2]. However, sources familiar with the matter indicated that the investigation specifically involves Carvalho and is not violent in nature [1][3]. While no direct link has been officially confirmed, the raid occurs against a backdrop of financial turbulence and scrutiny for the district. Recently, federal prosecutors had been investigating AllHere, a technology start-up that filed for bankruptcy in 2024 after securing a $6 million contract with LAUSD for an AI chatbot [4]. Additionally, the district is grappling with a massive $877 million budget deficit, which has necessitated the issuance of 3,200 layoff notices [7].
Broader Legal and Political Context
This federal intervention exacerbates an already litigious environment surrounding the district’s administration. Just days prior, on February 19, 2026, the Department of Justice petitioned to join a lawsuit alleging that LAUSD’s desegregation policies discriminate against white students [5]. Furthermore, former Superintendent Austin Beutner has led a lawsuit claiming the district misused $76.7 million in Proposition 28 funds, alleging a failure to meet the requirement that 80% of such funds be allocated to hiring new staff [7]. The district’s governance remains distinct from municipal control; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office emphasized that LAUSD operates as an independent body, stating they had no prior information regarding the federal search [3]. As the leader of a system serving over 500,000 students, Carvalho’s tenure—which currently commands a salary of $440,000 annually—is now under the most severe form of federal scrutiny [2][4].