The Office for Civil Rights has opened nearly 50 such investigations since Trump took office a year ago. The civil rights office is supposed to provide a free alternative to litigation. In 2024, the agency received more than 1,000 complaints involving sexual violence or sexual harassment, according to an annual report. The workers' return offers some hope to those with pending civil rights complaints. “We are literally losing civil rights progress in the United States, and it’s pushing us back more than 50 years.”___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations.

Source: ABC News January 16, 2026 16:03 UTC