OCR investigations plunge under Trump administration despite rising civil rights complaints

Newly released data reveals that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education has dramatically cut back its investigative activity since President Donald Trump resumed office, averaging about 100 new cases a month between Jan. 20 2025 and July 2026, compared with roughly 310 per month in 2024. The drop is especially stark for sexual-violence complaints: out of more than 200 filings, only 29 were pursued, and just one resulted in a finding of fault.

Overall, the OCR dismissed most of the 24,000 complaints logged through May and closed nearly 17,000 cases, often without substantiating wrongdoing. The agency’s focus has shifted toward alleged discrimination against males, opening 172 investigations versus 104 for females, and it has investigated a male-discrimination claim at Skyline College in California. Advocates, including Shiwali Patel of the National Women’s Law Center, argue the office is neglecting protections for women and girls, while a coalition of over 120 groups has urged congressional leaders to hold the OCR accountable. The Trump administration also plans to move the OCR under the Department of Justice, a move critics say could further erode civil-rights enforcement.