US Education Department’s civil rights office faces backlog, sexual assault investigations stall

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), once a critical enforcer of student protections against sexual violence, is facing a severe slowdown in investigations, leaving thousands of complaints in limbo. Under former President Donald Trump’s administration, mass layoffs and policy shifts halved the office’s legal staff, significantly limiting its capacity to investigate discrimination cases based on race, sex, and disability.

Internal data obtained by The Associated Press show that sexual assault investigations, which once numbered in the dozens annually, have dropped to fewer than 10 nationwide. Survivors and lawyers warn that with fewer resources and ongoing policy reversals, students now face a stark choice: pursue costly lawsuits or abandon their claims entirely.

Layoffs and backlog cripple investigations

The OCR lost half of its legal staff during Trump’s mass layoffs last year. Remaining staff face a backlog of more than 25,000 complaints, slowing work across the board. Before the layoffs, the office opened dozens of sexual violence investigations annually. Since then, fewer than 10 have been initiated nationwide, according to internal data obtained by The Associated Press.

Katie McKay, a New York lawyer representing survivors, said, “It almost feels like you’re up against the void. How are we supposed to hold a school accountable once it has messed up?” Many law firms handling Title IX complaints have stopped filing, calling the office a “dead end.”

Shift in enforcement priorities

While sexual assault investigations have dwindled, the Trump administration has used Title IX, the 1972 gender equality law, to target schools providing accommodations for transgender students and athletes. Since Trump took office, the OCR has opened nearly 50 such investigations, signaling a shift in federal priorities.

Julie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Education Department under Trump, defended the policy changes, saying, “The Trump Administration has restored commonsense safeguards against sexual violence by returning sex-based separation in intimate facilities. OCR is and will continue to safeguard the dignity and safety of our nation’s students.”

Survivors left with few options

For many students, the decline in federal oversight has left only two paths: file a lawsuit or abandon their complaint. One woman who filed a complaint in 2024 alleging her graduate school mishandled her assault case said no one had contacted her since. She recently sued the institution as a last resort, describing the process as a “David and Goliath mismatch.”

The OCR is designed to provide a free alternative to litigation. In 2024, it received more than 1,000 complaints involving sexual violence or harassment. Current numbers are unclear, as Trump administration officials have not reported updated figures, and staffers indicate the case pile is unmanageable.

Historical impact and recent cases

Before Trump’s second term, more than 300 sexual assault cases were pending. Staffers say most remain idle as investigators prioritize easier cases. Past OCR interventions demonstrate the office’s critical role:

• In Pennsylvania, a girl with a disability was repeatedly placed on a bus with a driver who had allegedly touched her. The district was ordered to appoint a Title IX coordinator and review prior complaints.
• In Montana, a boy assaulted after wrestling practice led to mandated procedural changes at the school.
• At the University of Notre Dame, the OCR intervened on behalf of a student expelled without proper investigation or witness interviews.

Voluntary agreements and policy changes

The Trump-era rules favor students accused of sexual misconduct, making investigations more challenging for survivors. Lawyers report minimal improvement, with complaints potentially dragging on for years.

Under Biden, the office secured 23 voluntary agreements with schools in 2024; under Trump’s first term, there were 58. Since Trump returned to office, there have been none, highlighting the sharp decline in enforcement.

Civil rights advocates sound the alarm

Laura Dunn, a civil rights lawyer who helped make campus sexual assault a federal priority under Obama, warned that progress is being lost. “All the progress survivors have made by sharing their story is being lost. We are literally losing civil rights progress in the United States, and it’s pushing us back more than 50 years,” she told The Associated Press.

With staff slowly being reinstated amid legal challenges, there is cautious hope for resolving the backlog. Yet, for thousands of students nationwide, the federal safety net that once ensured accountability for sexual misconduct remains severely weakened.Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!