Trump’s Education Department Cuts Civil Rights Enforcement
When the U.S. Department of Education closed its civil rights regional office in Philadelphia, complaints from Pennsylvania and four nearby states were redirected to one of five remaining offices located in Georgia. This Philadelphia office was one of seven closed after nearly half of the civil rights investigation staff was laid off in March.
Since then, the federal agency announced 137 additional layoffs from the civil rights office, which investigates discrimination complaints in schools and colleges, ensuring compliance with federal civil rights laws. Although these latest layoffs are currently paused, the enforcement staff that once had 560 members across 12 offices during President Donald Trump’s administration will shrink by over 70% if the cuts proceed.
Impact on Families and School Districts
Lindsey Williams, a Democrat representing the Pittsburgh area, reported that families with ongoing complaints and school districts undergoing Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations have struggled to receive responses from the Education Department since the staff reductions. Parents and advocates have voiced similar concerns in court, stating:
“Investigations in response to complaints they filed have simply stopped.”
Summary
The drastic reduction in civil rights enforcement staff under President Trump’s Education Department has resulted in delayed investigations and diminished federal responsiveness to discrimination complaints from schools and families.
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