QUICK SUMMARY
The Trump administration has closed Education Department civil rights offices, making it nearly impossible to investigate discrimination in schools. New priorities focus on limiting transgender student rights while dismissing the majority of discrimination complaints without investigation. Advocates are responding with lawsuits to counteract these changes.
The Trump administration has dismantled the Education Department's civil rights arm, closing regional offices and reducing staff, making investigations into discrimination nearly impossible. In March alone, only 57 investigations resulted in findings of civil rights violations, a stark contrast to up to 200 monthly under the Biden administration. The new focus includes targeting transgender students, highlighted by an investigation into a transgender athlete's participation in women's sports. The Office for Civil Rights has made it easier to dismiss complaints, with 91% of cases closed without investigation in March. Families seeking updates and action from the OCR have gone unheard, as remaining staff have taken on increased caseloads. Advocates and school districts are responding by filing lawsuits to challenge the administration's actions. The closure of offices and the abandonment of traditional priorities have raised concerns among civil rights defenders. This shift represents a fundamental change in the OCR's mission, which historically upheld rights against discrimination based on disability, race, and gender.