The Trump administration maintains that it has not compromised its responsibility to protect the civil rights of children in the United States, despite significant reductions within the Education Department. However, recent data indicates a decline in the agency's effectiveness in resolving civil rights cases, even as the number of complaints from families has increased.
The civil rights division of the Education Department experienced a staffing cut of nearly 50% due to mass layoffs in March, leading to concerns about its ability to manage a growing backlog of discrimination complaints involving issues related to disability, sex, or race. During a Senate budget hearing in June, Education Secretary Linda McMahon denied that these layoffs had affected the department's productivity. "Not only are we reducing the backlog, but we are keeping up with the current amount with a reduced staff because we are doing it efficiently," she asserted.
However, various metrics suggest that the output from the Office for Civil Rights has diminished sharply compared to previous years. A public database of resolution agreements, which are cases wherein educational institutions voluntarily agree to rectify civil rights concerns, reveals only 65 resolutions so far in the current year, indicating a potential decline from 380 in the previous year and an average of over 800 resolutions annually during Trump’s first term, including a peak of 1,300 in his inaugural year.
Additional internal data reveal a decrease of approximately 40% in total resolved cases since Trump took office. Significant drops in resolutions through formal agreements and school compliance actions—reportedly down by 70% compared to last year—have coincided with a 9% rise in new complaints, pushing the total number of cases past 25,000.
An Education Department spokesperson stated that the Trump administration is working to reform a flawed system, indicating that past staff levels did not contribute to effective resolutions, as evidenced by the backlog. The spokesperson, Julie Hartman, claimed that the office is resolving longstanding issues that have persisted over multiple administrations.
Families facing discrimination are increasingly frustrated by the lack of communication and resolution. Adrienne Hazel, a mother from Southfield, Michigan, filed a complaint in April regarding her 20-year-old son, Ricky, who has autism and was placed in a school program without proper educational resources. Unlike her past experiences, she reported having received no updates from the department since filing her complaint, stating, "It feels like I’m on my own." Hazel expressed concern that her son lacks the support he needs for his educational development.
The situation described by other advocates and parents echoes Hazel's frustrations. Marcie Lipsitt, a special education advocate from Michigan, noted that many families are experiencing delays, with investigations taking a year or more to open. She also highlighted that some schools have reverted to previous agreements without repercussions from the federal office, calling the current state "horrible," with a lack of accountability leading to children's suffering.
The future of the Education Department itself remains uncertain, as plans to downsize the agency proceed under the Trump administration. A recent Supreme Court ruling enabled continued layoffs and the outsourcing of certain functions, with McMahon suggesting the possibility of transferring civil rights responsibilities to the Justice Department.
Despite claims of progress, many question how the Office for Civil Rights can maintain its commitments with significantly reduced staff. A court order in June paused the termination of certain Office employees, with a federal judge in Boston indicating that the office was "currently incapable of addressing the vast majority" of complaints, particularly as over 200 employees are still on leave pending a decision on their status.
The Office for Civil Rights is charged with enforcing civil rights laws in schools and serves as a critical resource for parents and students encountering discrimination. For the 65 resolution agreements recorded this year, the majority relate to disability discrimination, with fewer cases addressing issues of sex or race. Most sex discrimination findings are associated with efforts to restrict transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, a stance tied to Trump’s campaign promises.
Reviews by current employees suggest that caseloads have expanded disproportionately, complicating management efforts. In the last budget request, the Office noted it was struggling to keep pace with an average of 42 cases per investigative staffer, with some estimations indicating current caseloads may exceed 200. Employees fear this surge in cases will lead to further delays in resolution.
Another parent, Casie Clouse, has also felt the burden of stagnation; she filed a complaint in May regarding her son, Brady, who has learning disabilities and was not receiving adequate support from his school. Clouse described her frustration at receiving no updates and worried that her son would enter high school unprepared for success. "I feel like my child will not get a high school diploma if he stays in Ann Arbor Public Schools," she lamented.
