A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s plan to carry out mass firings at the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is unconstitutional, granting a preliminary injunction to halt the reductions in force (RIF). The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Massachusetts on Wednesday, finds that the plaintiffs in the case have a strong likelihood of success in their argument that the RIF was “arbitrary and capricious” and that it would cause “irreparable harm” to both the plaintiffs and the OCR’s ability to carry out its functions.
Background of the Case
The lawsuit was brought by two students who had experienced severe race-based and disability-based harassment in schools, their parents, and the Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC), a nonprofit organization that advocates for victims of sex-based harassment. The plaintiffs argued that the RIF would significantly limit OCR’s capacity to address civil rights violations in schools, undermining the agency’s mission to ensure equal access to education and enforce civil rights laws.
The Trump administration had announced the RIF on March 11, with the aim of reducing the Office’s workforce, a move that would directly impact the OCR’s ability to investigate complaints and enforce civil rights protections in educational institutions. The plaintiffs contended that such drastic cuts would lead to delays and inefficiencies in investigations, particularly in cases of discrimination and harassment, resulting in harm to students who rely on OCR for legal recourse.
Judge’s Ruling and Analysis
Judge Joun, appointed by President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs, finding that the RIF would severely restrict the OCR’s ability to fulfill its statutory and regulatory obligations. He emphasized that the RIF would leave the OCR unable to handle most of the complaints it receives, making it impossible for the office to effectively carry out its mission. “The closings have made it costly and often infeasible for investigators to visit schools in-person to gather critical facts, making it impossible for OCR to complete investigations and cases promptly and fairly,” Joun wrote.
The judge also highlighted the direct harm to the student plaintiffs, who are unable to return to school while their cases continue. With investigations stalled due to the reduced workforce, the students face “irreparable harm” as their complaints go unaddressed. The VRLC also faces significant harm, as it no longer has OCR as a resource to assist in providing legal recourse to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Order to Restore Fired Employees
In his ruling, Judge Joun ordered the Trump administration to halt the RIF and take “all steps necessary” to facilitate the return of employees who had been fired or were set to be fired as part of the plan. The federal government was given 72 hours to submit a status report detailing its compliance with the court’s order.
This decision echoes a similar ruling that Judge Joun made in March, where he granted a preliminary injunction in another case filed by attorneys general, school districts, and other organizations in response to the RIF. In that case, Judge Joun had found that the RIF, which threatened to eliminate significant portions of the Education Department, was an unconstitutional attempt to reduce the department without Congressional approval.
Judge Joun’s decision underscores the importance of OCR’s role in protecting civil rights in education, particularly for vulnerable students who face discrimination and harassment. The ruling also serves as a significant setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize federal agencies, with the judge highlighting the potential harm such actions could inflict on students and victims of harassment.
The court’s order to halt the RIF at OCR provides immediate relief for both the plaintiffs in this case and the broader educational community, ensuring that the OCR can continue to function and protect students’ civil rights. The case is ongoing, and the legal battle over the future of OCR’s workforce is far from over.
