Massapequa School Board Fights to Keep 'Chiefs' Name, Drafts Counter-Legislation

The board says their proposed bill protects the town's identity and saves taxpayers $1 million in logo changes.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Massapequa school board is aggressively fighting to keep its 'Chiefs' team name and mascot, drafting counter-legislation to a congressman's resolution that aims to ban Native American-themed logos nationwide. The board says their proposed bill will protect the town's identity and save taxpayers roughly $1 million that would otherwise be spent removing the Chiefs name and logo district-wide.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the use of Native American-themed names and imagery by schools and sports teams. While some view these as honoring Native culture, others see them as offensive stereotypes. The Massapequa district is taking a strong stance to preserve their identity, setting up a potential clash with federal efforts to ban such logos.

The details

The Massapequa school board ripped Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) for introducing a resolution 'pushing back on the Trump administration's recent efforts' to keep the Chiefs and other team names. In response, the board drafted its own counter-legislation that it hopes to get introduced in Congress. The board's proposal argues that 'protection of Native expression is consistent with the First Amendment' and seeks to give 'Native American nations, groups, and individuals — and not the federal government or state governments' — more autonomy over how imagery is used.

  • In 2023, New York State announced a ban on Native American names and logos in public schools.
  • In Spring 2025, President Trump ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to investigate the issue affecting several school districts on Long Island and elsewhere.
  • In May 2025, McMahon visited Massapequa High School and blasted the state for hypocrisy because its ban only focused on Native American-themed teams.
  • In January 2026, the federal government determined that forcing schools to change logos solely based on Indigenous affiliation was a civil rights violation.

The players

Rep. Frank Pallone

A Democratic congressman from New Jersey who introduced a resolution aimed at banning Native American-themed logos nationwide.

Kerry Wachter

The Massapequa school board president who says their proposed legislation will protect the town's identity and save taxpayers $1 million.

Andrew Garbarino

A Republican congressman representing Massapequa, to whom the school board sent their proposed counter-legislation.

Linda McMahon

The U.S. Education Secretary who visited Massapequa High School in 2025 and criticized New York's ban on Native American-themed logos as hypocritical.

Oliver Roberts

An attorney for the Massapequa school district who called Rep. Pallone's resolution 'unconstitutional and ultimately harmful to Native American culture.'

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What they’re saying

“This resolution protects our town's identity and spares taxpayers roughly $1 million that would otherwise be spent removing the Chiefs name and logo district-wide.”

— Kerry Wachter, Massapequa School Board President (New York Post)

“You've got the Huguenots, we've got the Highlanders, we've got the Scotsmen. Why is that not considered in any way racist?”

— Linda McMahon, U.S. Education Secretary (New York Post)

“It's absurd to see the Trump administration twist civil rights law to defend offensive imagery instead of protecting the students those laws were meant to serve.”

— Frank Pallone, U.S. Congressman (New York Post)

“The Massapequa resolution corrects these constitutional defects and misguided policies by protecting local authority, respecting Native history, and ensuring decisions are made lawfully and responsibly.”

— Oliver Roberts, Massapequa School District Attorney (New York Post)

What’s next

The Massapequa school board is hoping their proposed counter-legislation will be introduced in Congress, setting up a potential showdown with Rep. Pallone's resolution to ban Native American-themed logos nationwide.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between preserving local identity and culture versus addressing concerns over offensive stereotypes. The Massapequa school district is taking an aggressive stance to protect their 'Chiefs' name and mascot, even as federal and state authorities have moved to ban such imagery in schools.