Civil rights enforcement resources have recently focused on issues like pronouns and writing bans during the Biden administration, according to senior education officials. They mentioned that about 200 complaints regarding anti-Semitism were filed with the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office but were left unresolved under Biden’s leadership.
More than 150 of these complaints came in on October 7, 2023, following the tragic attacks that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and led to military actions in Gaza, as noted by officials.
“The Biden administration has unnecessarily burdened the OCR by broadening civil rights law applications beyond their intended scope,” remarked Julie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Department of Education. “During Trump’s term, the OCR addressed these issues daily, following the law as it stands and using resources effectively to avoid wasting time on unfounded investigations.”
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To date, the Trump administration has dismissed at least 11 complaints concerning what some refer to as a “book ban” nationwide. Additionally, it has reversed Biden’s decision to incorporate “gender identity” into Title IX, instructing federally funded educational institutions to cease actions related to what the Trump administration considers a biased diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative.
“The Biden administration broadened Title IX protections to encompass gender identity, creating a situation where investigators might consider such matters as potential discrimination. This DEI programming risks instigating unnecessary Title VI investigations,” some officials expressed.
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Under Biden, civil rights officials also faced challenges addressing complaints related to transgender swimmer Swimalia Thomas, who made headlines in March 2022 as the first transgender female athlete to win a Division I National Championship. This has reignited debates about whether transgender athletes should compete in women’s events.
Shortly after his inauguration, Trump issued an executive order that cut federal funding to schools permitting biological men, like Thomas, to compete in women’s sports.
Since October 7, 2023, Trump has signed an executive order aimed at addressing rising anti-Semitism and formed a Department of Justice task force to ensure educational institutions are held accountable. The Education Bureau announced in March that it had sent letters to 60 colleges warning of possible civil rights violations if they fail to adequately safeguard Jewish students under Title VI.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education have led critics to question its commitment to civil rights, especially for students with disabilities.
Senior OCR lawyers maintain that the Trump administration is managing disability-related cases at a pace comparable to prior administrations. Over 200 disability-related complaints have been initiated since Trump took office, with 100 lawsuits regarding disability civil rights being closed consequently.
