VRLC Statement

September 30, 2025

Just last week, we welcomed the news that 85 Office for Civil Rights (OCR) employees returned to the important work of ensuring equal educational access to students who have been discriminated against at their schools. But, that progress was short-lived.

Yesterday, the First Circuit issued a decision which may prompt the Trump administration to resume its plans to gut the Department of Education and dismantle its civil rights enforcement arm, OCR. This ill-conceived political move undermines the Department’s legal obligation to enforce students’ civil rights. OCR exists to safeguard students’ educational access, especially those who have faced discrimination or experienced sexual assault. Without adequate staffing, that is impossible.

We remain optimistic that we will ultimately prevail, but are heartbroken for the students who will be denied important academic and extracurricular opportunities while we wait for that day to come.