WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led 15 of his congressional colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon demanding answers about the Trump Administration’s decision to illegally shutter the Philadelphia Regional Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and six other OCR Regional Offices.
OCR is charged with enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws so that every student has access to an equal education, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Until March 11, the employees at the Philadelphia OCR served students in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Delaware.
“We believe that the 50 million elementary and secondary school students and 20 million college students in America today deserve to attend their classes without fear of discrimination, regardless of which state they call home,” the lawmakers wrote.
"While the Department appears to be self-selecting cases that fit the current Administration’s political narrative, tens of thousands of actual pending complaints—spanning allegations of racial and sex-based discrimination, antisemitism, denial of services, and more—from parents and students remain in limbo," the lawmakers continued.
The letter requests detailed account of OCR’s work during the Trump Administration, its staffing levels and how ED plans to protect students’ federal civil rights after closing seven of its 12 regional offices.
Every Democratic Representative serving the states previously overseen by the Philadelphia OCR Regional Office joined Representative Raskin’s letter, including: Reps. Brendan Boyle (PA-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Sarah McBride (Del.-AL), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05).
Rep. Raskin’s letter was also endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, All4Ed, Education Reform Now, EdTrust, the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the National Education Association.
“As of January 15, 2025, the state of Maryland had 140 disability discrimination related cases currently pending at the U.S. Department of Education, in addition to thousands of others across the country. There is no doubt that the Trump Administration’s recent reckless actions will hinder the Department’s ability to investigate disability discrimination swiftly and effectively. We commend Rep. Raskin for leading this letter detailing the impacts of the staff layoffs and seeking answers about how this Administration will uphold students’ civil rights,” said Nicole Fuller, Policy Manager at the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
“Regional OCR offices are the frontline defenders of students’ civil rights. Their closure will leave families with nowhere to turn and further delay justice for tens of thousands of unresolved complaints. EdTrust applauds Congressman Raskin’s leadership in demanding a reversal of these harmful actions and urging the Department to do its job: protect students,” said Augustus Mays, Vice President for Partnerships and Engagement at EdTrust.
Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Rep. Raskin has released numerous resources for communities targeted by the Trump-Vance Administration, including launching a webpage compiling information and services, convening webinars for federal workers, immigrants and LGBTQIA+ Americans, holding a telephone town hall for the Eighth Congressional District, and submitting a Privacy Act request to DOGE.
You can stay updated on Rep. Raskin’s work at his Congressional office and House Judiciary Committee Democratic websites.
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