Education Department slows civil-rights cases

The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights resolved about 30% fewer discrimination complaints in 2025 than in 2024 as the Trump administration overhauled the agency. (nytimes.com) The Office for Civil Rights investigates complaints from students and families alleging discrimination based on race, sex, disability and other protected categories at schools and colleges that receive federal funds. Government Accountability Office investigators said the office protects more than 70 million students. (gao.gov) In March 2025, the department placed about half of the office’s 575 employees on paid administrative leave and closed seven of its 12 regional offices as part of a reduction in force and reorganization. (gao.gov) (ap.org) From March to September 2025, the office received more than 9,000 discrimination complaints and resolved more than 7,000, but about 90% of those resolutions were dismissals, according to the Government Accountability Office. (gao.gov) The watchdog also estimated the department spent up to $38 million paying salaries and benefits to civil-rights staff who were not working between March and December 2025. The department later recalled those employees in December and rescinded the reduction-in-force actions in early January 2026. (gao.gov) (govexec.com) Education Secretary Linda McMahon told lawmakers on April 28 that the department is hiring more civil-rights attorneys to address a backlog of complaints. Federal News Network reported the hiring push came after the department walked back hundreds of layoffs. (federalnewsnetwork.com) (appropriations.senate.gov) At the same April 28 Senate hearing, McMahon defended President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request, which would cut the department’s discretionary funding to $76.5 billion. Higher Ed Dive reported the proposal would cut the Office for Civil Rights by 35%, while U.S. News said the department’s overall reduction would total $2.3 billion from 2026 levels. (highereddive.com) (usnews.com) McMahon said in prepared testimony that the department has “shrunk our bloated bureaucracy” and shifted duties through partnerships with other agencies. Senate Democrats questioned whether those changes have made it harder for families to get civil-rights complaints investigated. (ed.gov) (opb.org) The result is a civil-rights office that is rebuilding staff while handling a backlog created during months of layoffs, litigation and office closures. Congress, not the department, will decide whether the White House’s proposed cuts take effect. (federalnewsnetwork.com) (appropriations.senate.gov)