Seventy House Democrats, led by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), have sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon seeking clarification about delays in handling civil rights complaints. The letter highlights concerns regarding a backlog of cases within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The lawmakers noted that the backlog has grown since the start of the Trump administration, during which a significant number of OCR staff were laid off.
At the beginning of the administration, over 22,000 civil rights complaints were pending. The Democrats are asking for details on how the department plans to address the backlog and ensure timely processing of these cases.
**Why this matters**
The Office for Civil Rights plays a critical role in investigating and resolving complaints related to discrimination in education. Delays in processing these complaints can affect individuals seeking justice and may impact the enforcement of civil rights protections in schools and educational institutions across the country.
Source: NewsData