Sexual Assaults on Campus No Longer Scrutinized as Closely Under Trump’s Education Department

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has sharply reduced investigations into campus discrimination and sexual violence since Trump's second term began in January 2025, according to newly obtained records reviewed by ProPublica.

The OCR launched an average of about 100 new investigations per month from Inauguration Day through July 2026, totaling 1,839 cases. That represents a steep decline from the Biden administration, which opened an average of 310 investigations monthly in 2024.

The reduction is especially pronounced for sexual violence cases. More than 200 new complaints were filed alleging schools mishandled reports of rape, assault and abuse. The Trump administration opened investigations in only 29 of them and found fault with a school district only once. ProPublica noted that at least 60 sexual violence investigations typically open yearly.

The OCR also opened only two investigations into discrimination based on sexual orientation and fewer than 370 involving racial discrimination despite receiving about 5,000 racial discrimination complaints.

The agency closed nearly 17,000 cases, almost always through dismissal. Fewer than 700 cases opened by the current administration resulted in findings of wrongdoing.

ProPublica obtained the records through a lawsuit after the department discontinued its public-facing database of investigations when Trump took office. The data covers the 18-month period through July 29, 2026, and does not include more than 10,000 cases opened before Trump retook power that remain pending.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon fired hundreds of employees and closed seven regional OCR offices. Education Department spokesperson Sabin Sidney said the administration was addressing a backlog of 19,000 unresolved cases left by the Biden administration.

Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, representing OCR staff, said the remaining attorneys are being "asked to use the tools they have used for their entire careers not for good, not to protect students, but to harm students."

The OCR has shifted focus toward complaints of discrimination against men. It opened 172 investigations into alleged discrimination against males compared with 104 cases alleging discrimination against females during the period examined.