Education Department Reinstates Staff Amid Growing Backlog of Discrimination Cases

Sat Dec 06 2025 04:30:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Trump administration has decided to bring back several staff members from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights to address a backlog of discrimination complaints that has swelled over time.

Facing a growing backlog of over 25,000 discrimination complaints, many stemming from a severe reduction in staffing, the Trump administration is reinstating staff from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, originally slated for layoffs. This decision is intended to enhance the department's capacity to address civil rights violations in schools and colleges. The reinstatement comes amid ongoing legal battles concerning workforce reductions, raising concerns about the efficiency and effectiveness of the Office for Civil Rights.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reinstating dozens of Education Department staff members who were set to be laid off due to the need for assistance in addressing a backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families.

These staff members had been on administrative leave while the department dealt with lawsuits challenging layoffs within the Office for Civil Rights, which investigates potential discrimination in schools and colleges. In a letter released on Friday, officials stated that the employees would return to duty starting December 15 to assist in reducing the civil rights caseload.

A spokesperson for the department confirmed the decision but mentioned the government's intention to still proceed with layoffs to downsize the department.

The Department will continue to appeal the persistent and unceasing litigation disputes concerning the Reductions in Force, but in the meantime, it will utilize all employees currently being compensated by American taxpayers, said Julie Hartman, a department spokesperson.

The letter directed all Office for Civil Rights staff to focus on the existing complaint backlog, which spans issues from disability rights violations to racial discrimination.

More than 200 workers from the Office for Civil Rights faced mass layoffs, though legal disputes have stalled the firings since March. An appeals court cleared the way for layoffs in September; however, additional lawsuits have delayed these actions further. Since President Trump took office, the education department's workforce has decreased from approximately 4,100 to about half, as his administration seeks to diminish the agency's presence.

The exact number of employees returning to work is unclear, as some who were on leave have left the department. As of earlier this year, the Office for Civil Rights faced a backlog of around 20,000 cases, which has now surpassed 25,000 due to staffing shortages. Critics argue that the office's capability to manage the current volume of cases is severely compromised, with families reporting significant delays in their complaints.

Despite the mounting complaints, Trump officials defend the layoffs by suggesting that the office was not operating efficiently even at full capacity. The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws in education, including those prohibiting discrimination based on disability, sex, race, and religion, and it holds the power to withdraw funding from non-compliant institutions.

This article was produced with financial support from various private foundations as part of AP’s education coverage. AP holds full responsibility for the content.