WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department is reinstating hundreds of employees in its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) who were put on paid administrative leave earlier this year. According to a Dec. 5 email acquired by States Newsroom, this move follows a significant increase in the backlog of civil rights complaints from students and families that OCR is responsible for investigating. A department spokesperson confirmed that the employees will return to work on Dec. 15.
Dismantling of Department
Over 200 OCR employees were placed on administrative leave as part of a Reduction in Force (RIF) initiative in March, amid legal challenges against President Donald Trump’s administration. Since taking office, Trump aimed to dismantle the 46-year-old agency by shifting education responsibilities “back to the states,” with Education Secretary Linda McMahon leading the effort.
“The Department will continue to appeal the persistent and unceasing litigation disputes concerning the Reductions in Force, but in the meantime, it will utilize all employees currently being compensated by American taxpayers,” Julie Hartman, a department spokesperson, stated. The email to employees emphasized the need to focus on OCR’s existing complaint caseload and utilize all staff to meet performance expectations.
The agency did not confirm the email’s text, and it remains unclear how many of the more than 200 employees will return or if some have found other jobs.
Union Criticizes Financial Waste
Rachel Gittleman, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, representing Education Department workers, criticized the decision to keep OCR employees on leave. She stated that “for more than nine months, hundreds of employees at the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) have been sidelined from the critical work of protecting our nation’s most vulnerable students and families.”
Gittleman mentioned that the Trump Administration’s decision to defy court orders and federal law has cost taxpayers over $40 million. She highlighted the severe consequences, noting that blocking OCR staff from performing their duties allowed a substantial backlog of civil rights complaints to accumulate, leaving returning employees to manage a crisis caused by the Department’s leadership.
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