The Education Department resolved 30% fewer discrimination complaints in 2025 compared to 2024, the sharpest annual decline in over three decades. A backlog of 20,000 cases now lingers, with officials citing unresolved Biden-era claims and a 43-day shutdown as contributing factors. Despite a record number of students seeking help for prejudice, bias, and bigotry, the civil rights office faces mounting criticism over delayed resolutions.

Linda McMahon, the education secretary, defended the slowdown during Senate testimony, attributing delays to inherited backlogs and staffing cuts. The administration proposed a 35% budget reduction for the civil rights office, slashing staff from 530 to 271. Restructuring efforts led by Kimberly Richey aim to prioritize disability- and race-based complaints through dedicated teams, replacing regional approaches. Critics argue these changes risk undermining equitable enforcement.

A Senate report revealed only 112 resolution agreements in 2025—down from an average of 818 annually during Trump’s first term. Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, called the decline “illegal” and “a disaster,” citing canceled agreements and stalled investigations. The office’s reduced output leaves fewer than 1% of cases resolved, with 15 states seeing zero agreements. Previously negotiated deals by prior administrations were also voided, a move described as unprecedented by legal experts.

McMahon asserted the department is meeting statutory duties efficiently, countering claims of failure. The Office for Civil Rights remains a critical tool for addressing discrimination in federally funded schools, with half of complaints historically involving disabled students. As the trump administration shifts investigative focus to align with political priorities—such as targeting anti-white bias and rolling back transgender protections—the enforcement slowdown raises concerns about long-term impacts on civil rights protections.