Since Donald Trump's return to the presidency, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has significantly reduced the number of new investigations into civil rights violations in schools and universities. The OCR has opened only about 20 new cases, focusing primarily on issues aligned with Trump's agenda, such as banning gender-neutral bathrooms and restricting transgender athletes. This contrasts sharply with the previous administration, which opened 110 investigations within the same timeframe. The shift towards 'directed investigations' has curtailed public complaints, raising concerns among OCR attorneys about the office's operational integrity.
In the three-and-a-half weeks since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, investigations by the agency that handles allegations of civil rights violations in the nation's schools and colleges have ground to a halt.
During the first three weeks of the Biden administration, for instance, the office opened about 110 new investigations into discrimination based on race, gender, national origin or disability, the office's historic priorities.
Historically, the bulk of investigations in the office have been launched after students or their families file complaints. Since Trump took office, the focus has shifted to 'directed investigations'.
We have not been able to open any (investigations) that come from the public, said one longtime OCR attorney who asked not to be named for fear of losing their job.
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