ED Opens Fewer Sexual Violence Investigations

The Department of Education—once the leading force for cracking down on colleges that mishandled cases of sexual assault and harassment—has now all but given up on sexual violence investigations, a new report from the Associated Press shows. 

Under administrations past, the department’s Office for Civil Rights would take on dozens of new cases each year, AP said, but since Trump took office a year ago Tuesday, it has opened fewer than 10. Meanwhile, it’s accumulated a backlog of more than 25,000 cases.

The same trend is playing out when it comes to resolved cases. For example, during President Trump’s first term in 2018, the OCR reached voluntary agreements with 58 schools and colleges. This time around, there have been none.

The investigations that have been pursued have focused largely on a different sexual discrimination topic—the rights of transgender athletes. Nearly 50 cases have been opened concerning institutions that allow trans women to participate in women’s sports, the AP reported. These cases have gained momentum on the grounds that the institutions involved are violating Title IX, a law focused on gender equality.

Combined with the unprecedented cuts Trump made to department staff, the change in priorities has slowed the handling of these cases so much that legal experts and advocates for sexual violence prevention say many students who filed a complaint will either have to double down through a lawsuit or walk away.