Trump administration ‘gutted’ federal civil rights enforcement, HRW says
Summary
Human Rights Watch reported that the Trump administration significantly reduced federal efforts to enforce civil rights laws. Key government agencies lost staff, stopped or reversed discrimination cases, and cut back enforcement programs affecting minorities, transgender people, and others.Key Facts
- The Trump administration cut staff and changed policies in federal civil rights enforcement starting in January 2025.
- The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division lost 75% of its lawyers by early 2026 and dropped agreements with police departments.
- Nearly 70 federal cases alleging discrimination were stopped, dismissed, or lost government support.
- The Department of Education laid off about half its staff in one day and closed most of its field offices. It resolved no discrimination cases involving Black and Latino students since Trump took office.
- Housing and Urban Development reduced staff in its division on racial discrimination and dropped at least 115 fair housing complaints without findings.
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had its lowest staffing in 40 years for handling workplace discrimination claims.
- Human Rights Watch and other groups sued the Trump administration over its sanctions against the International Criminal Court, citing concerns about US constitutional rights.
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