Education Secretary Linda McMahon told Congress she needs more civil rights lawyers while the White House proposes slashing the office by 49 percent. The conflicting positions emerged as McMahon attempts to rebuild a department that processed 30 percent fewer discrimination complaints last year.

McMahon fired roughly half the civil rights staff in March 2025, then reversed course in December amid legal challenges and a growing complaint backlog. The department spent up to $38 million on lawyers barred from working during the dispute, highlighting operational chaos.

As of March, only 303 lawyers remained on the payroll against 530 authorized positions. McMahon calls the White House budget a "floor" for hiring, while officials expect her to work within the reduced allocation. Job postings seek attorneys for regional offices in Atlanta, Denver, and Seattle.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the department's effectiveness. The staffing crisis threatens the Education Department's core civil rights enforcement mission, potentially leaving thousands of student discrimination cases unresolved as the Trump administration simultaneously moves to dismantle the agency.