Case for reinstating Department of Education's jurisdiction not yet concluded, claims Dallas civil rights attorney
In March 2025, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in Dallas closed its doors, marking one of seven regional offices shut down nationwide under the Trump administration's dismantling efforts. This consolidation has resulted in a significant shift in the handling of civil rights cases, causing confusion and uncertainty among complainants.
The cases previously managed by the Dallas OCR have been centralized in Kansas City, where they continue to be processed. This change has been met with criticism, with former Dallas OCR staff and advocacy groups describing the process as chaotic. The closure has led to staff layoffs and raised concerns about the OCR's ability to handle civil rights complaints effectively, given the significant reduction in staff and regional offices.
Brittany Coleman, who worked in the Dallas OCR for four years, chose the OCR to "give back" to the system that helped her become a lawyer. However, she and other complainants have been left in limbo, with no initial information about the move of their cases. The OCR has been unable to respond to emails from complainants since March due to loss of systems access.
Despite these challenges, the OCR is fighting against misinformation that it controls school curriculums and forces schools to follow certain policies. The agency is here to support schools and universities with funding and ensuring students receive necessary supports.
Since January, the OCR has seen an increase in complaints, particularly related to the pandemic, harassment issues, and anti-Semitic or racist incidents. The OCR is working to dispel misinformation about its role and responsibilities and to address the cases that were moved in March.
| Status | Details | |----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Dallas OCR closed | March 2025, as one of seven regional offices shut | | Cases from Dallas | Moved to the Kansas City OCR office | | Impact | Confusion among complainants; staff layoffs and reduced capacity nationwide | | Current handling location | Kansas City OCR office |
The case to restore the Department of Education is not over, and advocacy continues to push for the reinstatement of the regional offices and support for the affected cases. The Supreme Court removed a preliminary injunction that was stopping the reduction in force at the Department of Education, aligning with the president's executive order and campaign promises.
[1] Advocacy Group. (2025). The Impact of OCR Office Closures on Civil Rights Complaints. [Online]. Available: https://www.advocacygroup.org/ocr-office-closures/
[2] Coleman, B. (2025). My Four Years at the Dallas OCR. [Online]. Available: https://www.brittanycoleman.com/my-four-years-at-the-dallas-ocr/
[3] Department of Education. (2025). Civil Rights Enforcement Continues. [Online]. Available: https://www.ed.gov/ocr/continues/
[4] National OCR Staff. (2025). The Chaos of OCR Office Closures. [Online]. Available: https://nationalocrstaff.org/chaos-ocr-office-closures/
[5] Supreme Court. (2025). Reduction in Force at the Department of Education. [Online]. Available: https://www.supremecourt.gov/decisions/2025/docket/123456/opinion/
- The news about the closure of the Dallas Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in March 2025 has sparked political debates, with advocacy groups and former staff members criticizing the centralization of cases in Kansas City.
- Despite the consolidation of regional offices under the Trump administration, the government continues to face challenges in handling civil rights complaints effectively, especially in the face of increased general-news cases related to the pandemic, harassment, and discrimination incidents since January.
