US Civil Rights Office Crippled by Layoffs and Backlog
The Office for Civil Rights within the US Department of Education once stood as a powerful defender of student rights. This office actively investigated discrimination complaints based on race, sex, and disability. Today, it struggles with a severe operational slowdown. Thousands of complaints now languish in bureaucratic limbo without resolution.
Staff Cuts and Policy Shifts Cripple Enforcement
Mass layoffs during the Trump administration decimated the office's legal team. The staff reductions effectively halved its capacity to handle cases. Internal data obtained by The Associated Press reveals a shocking decline in sexual assault investigations. These cases once numbered in the dozens each year. Now, fewer than ten such investigations are initiated nationwide annually.
The remaining staff confronts an overwhelming backlog. More than 25,000 complaints await attention, slowing all work to a crawl. Lawyers who represent survivors describe the current situation as futile. "It almost feels like you're up against the void," said Katie McKay, a New York attorney. "How are we supposed to hold a school accountable once it has messed up?" Many firms have stopped filing Title IX complaints altogether, labeling the office a dead end.
Enforcement Priorities Shift Dramatically
While sexual assault investigations have dwindled, the office's focus has shifted under the Trump administration. Officials now use Title IX, the 1972 gender equality law, to target different issues. The office has opened nearly fifty investigations into schools providing accommodations for transgender students and athletes. This marks a clear change in federal enforcement priorities.
Julie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Education Department under Trump, defended these policy changes. "The Trump Administration has restored commonsense safeguards against sexual violence by returning sex-based separation in intimate facilities," she stated. "OCR is and will continue to safeguard the dignity and safety of our nation's students."
Survivors Face a Stark Choice: Sue or Give Up
The decline in federal oversight leaves students with few viable options. Many survivors now confront a stark binary choice. They can either pursue costly private lawsuits or abandon their complaints entirely. One woman filed a complaint in 2024 alleging her graduate school mishandled her assault case. No one from the office contacted her afterward. She recently sued the institution as a last resort, calling the process a "David and Goliath mismatch."
The Office for Civil Rights was designed to provide a free, accessible alternative to litigation. In 2024 alone, it received over one thousand complaints involving sexual violence or harassment. Current complaint numbers remain unclear. Trump administration officials have not reported updated figures, and staffers indicate the caseload is completely unmanageable.
Historical Impact Shows Office's Critical Role
Before Trump's second term, more than three hundred sexual assault cases were pending. Staffers report that most remain idle as investigators prioritize simpler cases. The office's historical interventions demonstrate its vital function.
- In Pennsylvania, the office intervened after a girl with a disability was repeatedly placed on a bus with a driver who had allegedly touched her. The school district was ordered to appoint a Title IX coordinator and review prior complaints.
- In Montana, an assault on a boy after wrestling practice led to mandated procedural changes at his school.
- At the University of Notre Dame, the office acted on behalf of a student who was expelled without a proper investigation or witness interviews.
Voluntary Agreements and Policy Changes Favor the Accused
Trump-era rules have made investigations more challenging for survivors by favoring students accused of sexual misconduct. Lawyers report minimal progress, with complaints potentially dragging on for years without resolution.
The data on voluntary agreements with schools highlights the sharp decline in enforcement. Under the Biden administration, the office secured twenty-three such agreements in 2024. During Trump's first term, there were fifty-eight. Since Trump returned to office, there have been none.
Civil Rights Advocates Warn of Lost Progress
Laura Dunn, a civil rights lawyer who helped prioritize campus sexual assault under Obama, sounded the alarm. "All the progress survivors have made by sharing their story is being lost," she told The Associated Press. "We are literally losing civil rights progress in the United States, and it's pushing us back more than 50 years."
There is some cautious hope. Staff are slowly being reinstated amid ongoing legal challenges. This could help resolve the massive backlog. Yet, for thousands of students across the nation, the federal safety net that once ensured accountability for sexual misconduct remains severely weakened and unreliable.
