Trump Administration Reinstates Education Department Staff to Address Discrimination Backlog

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reinstating dozens of Education Department staffers who were set to be laid off, stating their expertise is necessary to address a growing backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families.

The staff members were on administrative leave amid legal challenges against layoffs in the Office for Civil Rights, which is tasked with investigating potential discrimination across U.S. schools and colleges. However, in a letter sent by department officials, employees have been called back to service starting Dec. 15 to alleviate civil rights caseloads.

A representative from the department confirmed the change, while also indicating that the administration still seeks to reduce the department's size through subsequent layoffs.

“The Department will appeal the ongoing litigation regarding the reductions, but for now, will utilize all available employees,” stated Julie Hartman, a department spokesperson.

In their letter, officials expressed the urgent need for all Office for Civil Rights (OCR) staff to focus on the backlog of existing complaints. The OCR handles various issues, including potential violations of disability rights and racial discrimination.

Since the Trump presidency began, the Education Department’s workforce has declined from 4,100 to roughly half, largely attributed to administration efforts to downsize the agency. In fact, the Office for Civil Rights, which had a caseload of 20,000 complaints upon Trump taking office, has now exceeded 25,000 cases, as reported by the AP based on department data.

Despite ongoing layoffs, former staff members express skepticism on the agency's capacity to effectively address the current backlog with reduced staffing levels. Many families who have submitted complaints report long wait times, with little communication from the Department.

Officials from the department defend the layoffs, claiming that even at full capacity, the office was not operating efficiently. The OCR enforces key civil rights laws, handling complaints from students and having the authority to cut funding for institutions that violate the law.

In the meantime, it remains uncertain how many of the previously laid-off workers will return to duty, as some have since departed from the Department.