New Report: Trump Administration Sharply Cuts US Civil Rights Enforcement

According to a new report by the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published on August 13, the US federal government has taken a major step backward in its role of protecting civil rights nationwide between January 2025 and early 2026—the first months of President Donald Trump's second term.

The 112-page report concludes that federal agencies responsible for preventing discrimination have largely seen staff reductions, and directives from the highest levels under Trump have diminished the federal government's role in safeguarding civil rights.

“While claiming to protect all Americans, the administration is dismantling the systems that communities have long turned to for help,” said Trey Walk, a HRW researcher, in a statement.

Four key agencies affected

The report examines four federal agencies dedicated to civil rights: the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, the Office of Fair Housing at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

HRW interviewed current and former federal employees, lawyers, complainants, and community groups involved in cases alleging discrimination. The organization also reviewed court documents and federal agency directives showing the shift in priorities under the Trump administration.

Historical context of civil rights enforcement

The federal government's role in protecting civil rights has deep roots, beginning with the US Constitution. In 1791, Congress ratified the first amendments (the Bill of Rights), establishing protections such as religious freedom. After the American Civil War, additional amendments were added, guaranteeing rights like equal protection under the law.

The US Department of Justice, established in 1870, was tied from its inception to the need to enforce civil rights laws after the Civil War, including prosecuting white supremacist groups when local governments, especially in southern states, refused to act. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 created the dedicated civil rights division within the DOJ.

Policy changes under Trump

Trump's second term has seen opposition to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies, which became widespread after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. Trump has called DEI “racial discrimination” and claimed there is an “anti-white feeling” in America.

Since taking office, Trump has sought to dismantle policies the administration views as giving unfair advantages to women and minorities. Agencies like the EEOC and the DOJ's Civil Rights Division have paused some cases, including those involving sexual harassment and transgender rights, while opening new investigations, such as a lawsuit against Nike alleging discrimination against white employees.

In May 2025, the DOJ also announced it would stop investigating and enforcing reform agreements with police departments accused of racial discrimination, which had been implemented in cities like Louisville and Minneapolis after police killings of unarmed Black individuals.

Key findings of the HRW report

The report documents an overall weakening of civil rights enforcement agencies. For example, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division had about 365 lawyers in January 2025, but by the end of that year, three-quarters of the lawyers had left. HRW called this a “coordinated effort to undermine professional staff.”

A DOJ spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the Civil Rights Division “remains committed to protecting the rights of all Americans” and has hired 100 new staff members after the departures in 2025. According to the spokesperson, the division now focuses on “protecting religious liberty, Second Amendment rights, women's and girls' spaces, combating illegal racial discrimination and DEI, and protecting parents' rights in directing their children's upbringing.”

Impact on other agencies

Other agencies also saw reduced staffing and activity. HUD's Office of Fair Housing dropped from 31 employees to 11 by mid-2025; 115 complaints prepared by the office and forwarded to the DOJ were rejected. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights initially had 568 staff across 12 offices; within months, 7 offices were closed and half of the civil rights staff left. From May to September 2025, the office rejected about 90% of nearly 10,000 complaints received.

Real-world impact

HRW found that many victims and communities facing discrimination no longer receive timely support from federal agencies. A community housing group said HUD no longer responds promptly to discrimination cases against LGBTQ communities. The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, which historically investigated complaints and worked with school districts, has nearly stopped processing complaints. While the office required policy changes or monitoring in 336 cases in the first half of 2024, that number fell to just 59 in the same period in 2025.

One specific example is Springfield, Massachusetts, where parents complained after white students held a mock “slave auction” on Snapchat, bidding on Black classmates. The case has not been pursued by the Office for Civil Rights since last year.