U.S. Education Department Rehires Fired Lawyers to Tackle Rights Complaint Backlog

The U.S. Department of Education is rehiring several attorneys it previously fired. The move aims to address a large backlog of civil rights complaints. The department stated that bringing these lawyers back will "bolster and refocus" civil rights enforcement. The goal is to better serve students, parents, and families. These attorneys were part of the department's Office for Civil Rights. They were dismissed under the previous presidential administration. Their recall signals a shift in priorities under the current leadership. The Office for Civil Rights investigates complaints about discrimination. These cases can involve race, gender, or disability issues in schools and universities. The backlog has caused long delays for those filing complaints. A department spokesperson said the recall of staff is a direct response to this growing pile of unresolved cases. No specific number of rehired attorneys was provided.