Thousands of Civil Rights Cases in Limbo After Department of Education Layoffs

“The Trump administration’s decision to gut the Department of Education is a reckless, foolish and [a] vicious act,” said U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Some may be forced to wait years—perhaps even a lifetime—for justice, as the federal government struggles to resolve civil rights cases following the Trump administration’s decision to gut the Department of Education, resulting in hundreds of layoffs.

On Wednesday, the agency laid off roughly 1,300 employees from its 4,000-person workforce, leaving fewer than 300 staff members to handle thousands of unresolved civil rights cases.

Prior to the layoffs, the department had been handling a wide range of cases, including allegations of racial and religious discrimination, complaints of sexual violence in schools and on college campuses, and families advocating for essential services for students with disabilities. Employees who survived the cuts fear they will be unable to take on the overwhelming caseload left behind, a reality that could deny justice to countless individuals.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) condemned the administration’s actions.

“The Trump administration’s decision to gut the Department of Education is a reckless, foolish and [a] vicious act…it is intended to disorient and distract the American people from the fact that costs are rising,” Jeffries said in a statement obtained by The Kicker.

“The Department of Education was created by an act of Congress, and only Congress has the power to close it…Democrats will continue to aggressively push back in Congress, the Courts and across our communities,” he added.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo (D-R.I.) echoed those concerns, warning that the move is a step toward dismantling the department altogether.

“This decision is a Trojan horse to dismantling [the department] entirely,” Amo said in a statement obtained by The Kicker.

“You can’t eliminate a federal agency created by Congress ‘half now/half later.’ I will fight against this decision that will cause learning loss, program cuts, lack of supports for students with disabilities, and disruption for students, educators, and school communities,” he added.

As of now, the Trump administration has not clarified how it will proceed with these unresolved cases.

Thanks for reading The Kicker! What are your thoughts on the fact that, in some cases, justice may not only be delayed but potentially denied altogether?

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