WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department has decided to bring back several staff from the Office for Civil Rights as the agency struggles with a growing backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families.
Initially, these employees were placed on administrative leave because of impending layoffs. However, department officials have now deemed their expertise necessary to assist with the excessive number of civil rights cases reported, which has increased significantly over recent months.
In correspondence with department employees, officials indicated the necessity of having the OCR staff return to work by December 15. While acknowledging the aim to reduce agency size through layoffs, spokesperson Julie Hartman noted that current staffing limitations must be remedied to prioritize the existing complaint workload.
The office has faced criticism from civil rights advocates, with the backlog reportedly exceeding 25,000 cases, a significant increase from 20,000 when Trump assumed presidency. This deterioration in the Office for Civil Rights' capacity to handle cases effectively has been linked to previous layoffs that reduced the workforce substantially.
Staff have voiced concerns over the current ability to manage the complaint caseload under the existing staffing situation, which has hindered timely resolutions for families seeking justice against discrimination in educational settings. Critics believe this mismanagement could risk further non-compliance by educational institutions.
This situation is compounded by legal challenges surrounding the planned layoffs; while the department has attempted to move forward with reducing staff, an appeals court has paused decisions following new lawsuits. The shrinking workforce raises questions about meeting the educational rights of marginalized communities across the nation.
