Department of Education Post Uses Artist's Work Illegally
The government agency shared an altered version of a creator's fan art on X without receiving prior consent.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Department of Education faces criticism after posting a meme on X that appears to use artwork by artist Devin Elle Kurtz without her consent. The post, which featured the slogan 'Make education great again,' used an altered version of Kurtz's 2023 fan art.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing friction between government agency social media practices and individual creator rights. Families and students watching for digital literacy examples may note the ongoing public discourse surrounding the unauthorized use of creative works.
The image used by the government, posted on October 29, 2026, noticeably removed original elements such as dragons and altered the brickwork found in the 29-year-old artist's original 2023 creation.
The players
Devin Elle Kurtz
A 29-year-old Pasadena-based artist who created the original fan art utilized in the government post.
Department of Education
The federal agency responsible for national schooling standards that posted the controversial meme on X.
The details
The government post featured characters in outfits and stances mirroring Kurtz's copyrighted work while omitting key components of the original composition. Despite the public backlash and the department's removal of background artistic details, the artist has stated she does not intend to pursue legal action regarding the unauthorized use of her work.
Timeline
2023: Artist Devin Elle Kurtz created the original fan art.
December 2025: The Department of Homeland Security utilized a song by Sabrina Carpenter.
October 29, 2026: The Department of Education posted the meme on X.
The Home Front
This incident follows a pattern set by the December 2025 Department of Homeland Security use of Sabrina Carpenter's song, highlighting recurring copyright concerns in federal social media. The shift marks a departure from standard agency guidelines regarding the use of individual creative works.
Families should use this as a prompt to discuss digital footprints and intellectual property rights with student-aged children who share their own art online. Always verify the source and licensing terms when downloading or sharing images for school projects or home-based social media accounts.
The takeaway
The use of intellectual property by public agencies remains a significant point of concern for content creators across the country. Always consider the origin of digital assets before sharing, even when they appear in government-affiliated public channels.
Further reading
For more on how institutions engage with student and creator communities, see our Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
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