Despite claims from Education Secretary Linda McMahon that the department is managing cases efficiently, data reveals a sharp decline in resolved civil rights cases in 2025, with only 65 cases resolved so far, compared to 380 in 2024 and over 800 in previous years.

Since President Trump's administration began, the number of resolved cases has dropped by about 40%, with a 70% decrease in cases resolved through formal agreements, highlighting a significant decline in enforcement.

The reduction in case resolutions correlates with a substantial staffing cut within the Office for Civil Rights, which has been criticized for diminished effectiveness and capacity to handle complaints.

Nearly half of the Office for Civil Rights staff was laid off in March 2025, reducing its workforce by nearly 50%, raising serious concerns about its ability to address a backlog exceeding 25,000 discrimination complaints.

Overwhelmed staff, managing over 200 cases each, have reported delays and concerns that many complaints will remain unresolved due to the increased caseload.

Despite a 9% rise in new complaints, the total caseload has surpassed 25,000, leaving many families waiting for federal intervention and feeling abandoned.

Parents like Adrienne Hazel and Casie Clouse have expressed frustration over the lack of communication and support from the OCR, which is negatively impacting their children's education and increasing fears of academic failure.

Parents and advocates report that response times from the Education Department have slowed significantly, with many families experiencing extended delays and feeling neglected in their pursuit of justice.

The future of the Education Department's civil rights work is uncertain, with plans to possibly transfer responsibilities to the Justice Department amid ongoing downsizing and recent Supreme Court rulings enabling further layoffs.

The combination of staff reductions, increased complaints, and overwhelmed personnel has led to a crisis in civil rights enforcement within the department, raising questions about its capacity to protect students' rights.