Video: Tracking Civil Rights Enforcement Amid Federal Changes
The Office for Civil Rights has undergone major structural changes under the Trump administration.
Photo credit: Diego Cervo/Bigstock
About the Webinar
The agency charged with enforcing federal civil rights law at schools and colleges, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights or OCR, has transformed dramatically during the second Trump administration.
The webinar recording helps reporters better understand today’s civil rights enforcement landscape. Get guidance for covering this important topic, including useful background information, angles to explore, reporting tips and ideas for how to localize the story.
Some of the changes to OCR include:
- Significant staff reductions and the closure of several regional offices
- A shift in priorities, with an increased emphasis on investigations involving transgender athletes and diversity efforts, alongside a reduced focus on racial and sexual harassment
- An announcement that much of the agency’s work would be moved to the U.S.Department of Justice
- The decision to rescind provisions around disparate impact, a key tool in discrimination investigations
