The U.S. Department of Education began shifting core civil rights investigation and special education responsibilities to other federal agencies, a change the administration says is designed to streamline oversight as it continues efforts to shrink the department. Under the new interagency agreements announced Tuesday, the Office for Civil Rights will route investigations through the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, while the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will move to the Department of Health and Human Services. Administration officials said the changes will not reduce federal enforcement and that OCR will retain management responsibilities, with DOJ coordinating evaluation and case resolution. Separate agreements also move additional duties tied to student privacy enforcement and other education-related functions. Advocacy groups warned the restructuring could weaken protections for students with disabilities and complicate complaint processes, citing concerns about staffing, timelines, and where decision-making authority will sit. Colleges and school systems are now preparing for a transition in how harassment and discrimination complaints are investigated—along with a new enforcement pathway for education civil rights disputes.