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Education Department Recalls Hundreds of OCR Staff to Cut Civil Rights Case Backlog

Officials cite an urgent need to process cases after months of paid leave during ongoing RIF appeals.

Overview

  • Employees were instructed to report in person to regional offices on Dec. 15, with some receiving Dec. 29 return dates.
  • The department confirmed work will resume even as it continues to appeal litigation over the March Reduction in Force and described the recall as temporary.
  • A court filing said 264 OCR employees were placed on leave on March 11, and 7,888 complaints were received between March 11 and Sept. 1.
  • News reports differ on the size of the recall, with counts ranging from dozens to roughly 250 or more than 260.
  • The employees’ union says the paid-leave period sidelined staff for more than nine months and wasted over $40 million in taxpayer funds.