The U.S. Department of Education has announced the closure of seven of its 12 regional Office for Civil Rights (OCR) branches, including the San Francisco office that handles California’s federal civil rights complaints. The decision is part of a broader restructuring effort that will cut nearly half the department’s workforce, placing about 1,300 employees on administrative leave or voluntary resignation.

California currently has over 700 pending civil rights cases with the OCR, but the federal government has not provided details on how these cases will be handled. Advocates warn that, without a local federal presence, students facing discrimination may have fewer protections.

“There is no federal presence enforcing civil rights in schools in California,” said Catherine Lhamon, former assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education.

“Our country and California will effectively see an end to a federal backstop of harm in schools,” she said.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the move, stating it was part of an effort to increase efficiency and accountability. However, critics argue the cuts will severely weaken enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, particularly for students with disabilities, English learners, and victims of racial or sexual harassment.

Educators and civil rights groups, including the ACLU, fear that certain complaints may be prioritized over others based on political agendas. The Los Angeles Unified School District condemned the cuts, with board member Kelly Gonez calling them “radical and cruel.”

With no clear plan for handling California’s backlog of cases, advocates worry the closures will lead to longer investigation times and reduced oversight, leaving vulnerable students without federal protection.