The U.S. Department of Education moved key civil-rights investigation and enforcement activities to the Justice Department, advancing the second Trump administration’s effort to shrink or restructure the agency’s role in K-12 and higher education. Under the partnership, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights will use DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to evaluate, investigate, and resolve complaints tied to discrimination and harassment. The Education Department said it would retain management and leadership of OCR and keep policy guidance, technical assistance, and data collection functions. Officials also said OCR would coordinate with DOJ on case handling and continue mediation and settlement support. Separately, the Education Department is also shifting parts of special education oversight to the Health and Human Services Department. Advocates warned the changes could weaken enforcement and disrupt support for students with disabilities. Former OCR staff and former Education Department lawyers argued the DOJ’s different enforcement role could leave students without the same kind of relief pathway and accountability they have relied on historically.