Trump Administration Rolls Back Protections Against Sexual Violence in Education

Fri Jan 16 2026 20:06:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Education Department's efforts to combat sexual violence at schools have diminished significantly under the Trump administration, leaving a backlog of cases and limited options for victims seeking justice.

The Trump administration's restructuring of the Education Department has severely impacted the Office for Civil Rights, leading to decreased investigations into sexual violence cases in schools. With fewer staff and an overwhelming number of backlog complaints, victims face significant barriers in seeking justice. Meanwhile, Trump officials target schools accommodating transgender students under Title IX, reflecting a shift in focus amid deteriorating support for sexual violence cases.

WASHINGTON (RTW News) — The efforts of the Trump administration to combat sexual violence and discrimination in educational institutions have taken a significant hit, following mass layoffs at the Department of Education.

The Office for Civil Rights within the Education Department, once a robust agency enforcing protections against sexual violence in schools, has faced severe cuts, leaving only half as many attorneys to investigate complaints of discrimination. This has resulted in an alarming backlog of over 25,000 cases.

Since the layoffs, the number of investigations into sexual violence has dramatically decreased—from dozens of cases annually to fewer than ten. Critics argue that this reflects a broader trend of neglect regarding victims of sexual assault and discrimination in educational spaces.

Interestingly, while investigations into sexual violence have declined, the Trump administration has shifted focus, vigorously pursuing Title IX complaints against schools that provide accommodations for transgender students and athletes. Nearly 50 such investigations have been opened in the past year.

Critics are voicing concerns over the implications of these developments. Katie McKay, a lawyer advocating for victims, expressed feelings of despair, stating, It feels like a big question mark right now. How are we supposed to hold a school accountable once it has messed up? Many advocates have stopped submitting Title IX complaints, deeming the effort futile.

Despite the Biden administration's attempts to address these challenges, the Education Department has traces of the Trump administration's policies, which emphasized preserving sex-based separation in intimate facilities to protect dignity over broadly tackling sexual violence.

With few options left for victims—such as filing lawsuits or abandoning their claims—many are left feeling powerless. One former student recounted her frustration with the complaints process, stating, It's just me, just this one individual who's filing this simple suit.

The diminishing effectiveness of the Office for Civil Rights not only showcases the changing landscape of educational policies but illustrates the broader ramifications for civil rights and student safety in the United States.