Trump Administration Reinstates Education Staff Amid Discrimination Complaint Backlog

Sat Dec 06 2025 04:25:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After facing mounting discrimination complaints in schools, the Education Department under the Trump administration reinstates staff previously laid off to address the rising backlog of civil rights cases.

In response to an overwhelming backlog of discrimination complaints, the Trump administration is bringing back dozens of staffers from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights. Though previously on administrative leave, these staff members are expected to assist in clearing civil rights cases while the government's long-term plan to downsize continues under persistent legal challenges. The backlog of complaints has swelled during the ongoing disputes about staffing levels, increasing the need for these employees to return.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reinstating dozens of staffers from the Education Department who were slated for layoffs, citing the urgent need to tackle a substantial backlog of discrimination complaints from students and families.

These employees had been on administrative leave while facing ongoing legal battles regarding mass layoffs in the Office for Civil Rights, the department responsible for investigating possible discrimination within the nation’s educational institutions. A departmental letter confirmed that these workers would return to active duty by December 15 to assist in clearing civil rights cases.

Julie Hartman, a spokesperson for the department, indicated that while the government remains committed to eventually reducing the department's size through layoffs, the current emphasis is on utilizing all available personnel. The Department will continue to appeal the persistent litigation regarding the Reductions in Force. In the meantime, it will use all employees compensated by American taxpayers,” Hartman stated.

An internal memo indicated the necessity for the Office for Civil Rights staff to prioritize addressing the existing complaint caseload, which encompasses a wide range of potential civil rights violations, including issues related to disability rights and racial discrimination.

The Office for Civil Rights initially faced a backlog of around 20,000 complaints when Trump assumed office. However, the ongoing reductions in staff have contributed to this number increasing to over 25,000 complaints today, as AP reporting has outlined.

Despite facing heavy criticism for the layoffs, Trump officials have defended their staffing decisions, alleging that the office was historically inefficient even at full capacity.

Critics argue that the department’s reduced workforce cannot feasibly manage the mounting complaint backlog. Families awaiting responses to their discrimination complaints have expressed their struggle with the perceived decline in departmental staffing, often waiting months for updates.

The Office for Civil Rights oversees ensuring compliance with civil rights laws in education, which include prohibitions against discrimination based on disability, sex, race, and religion. It also has the authority to cut funding to institutions that violate these laws, although most cases are resolved through negotiation and voluntary agreements.