On June 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (CRT) announced an Interagency Agreement to establish a partnership intended to strengthen the enforcement of federal civil rights laws in educational institutions that receive federal funding. The agreement states that both agencies share a commitment to ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence through more coordinated, efficient, and vigorous enforcement efforts. It seeks to improve cooperation between the agencies by aligning policies, strengthening enforcement procedures, and leveraging the expertise and resources of both offices.
Under the agreement, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division may evaluate, investigate, and attempt to resolve matters referred by the Department of Education involving several major civil rights statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act. The agreement also provides for DOJ to assist OCR through technical guidance, administrative support, information technology services, cybersecurity coordination, and other operational functions intended to support OCR’s mission.
At the same time, the Department of Education retains responsibility for core oversight and decision-making functions. OCR will continue to refer complaints and investigations when appropriate, develop policy and guidance, manage compliance reviews, oversee data collection, and administer its staffing and budgetary operations. Most notably, the agreement specifies that OCR and the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights retain statutory authority to make final enforcement decisions, including determinations regarding administrative or judicial enforcement. The agreement explicitly states that nothing within it limits or impairs those statutory responsibilities.
The agreement establishes a reimbursement framework under which the Department of Education will transfer funds to the Department of Justice for services provided in support of OCR’s enforcement activities. Funding is subject to annual appropriations and must be documented through separate funding instruments. The agreement became effective upon the final signature of the parties and remains in effect until terminated, with either agency permitted to end the arrangement upon 90 days’ written notice. It also rescinds prior memoranda of understanding governing OCR-DOJ coordination and calls for the development of a revised agreement concerning the enforcement of shared civil rights responsibilities.
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