Office of Civil Rights

Virginia's Office of Civil Rights reached a $2.25M settlement with landlord David Merryman, requiring him to sell properties in a fair housing case. The settlement is historic, as announced by Attorney General Jay Jones.

Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina faces a federal Title IX investigation after a parent alleged boys were allowed to use girls' restrooms, potentially violating female students' rights. The U.S. Department of Education cited Title IX's prohibition on sex-based discrimination, now defined as biological sex assigned at birth, and noted similar investigations into Cabarrus County Schools and Western Carolina University.

A Department of Health and Human Services scholarship is alleged to illegally fund healthcare degrees for indigenous Hawaiians, according to a complaint filed with the agency's Office of Civil Rights.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly proposes creating an Office of Civil Rights in the Governor’s Office to address voting rights, healthcare access, and education equity. The proposal comes amid efforts by the Ron DeSantis administration to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs through legislation and legal opinions. Sen. Shevrin Jones supports the initiative, citing Florida’s rollback of civil rights measures.

Smith College is under investigation by the Trump administration for admitting transgender students, which an education watchdog claims violates Title IX and undermines the college's all-women status. The college's policy allows self-identified women to be admitted, including cisgender, transgender, and nonbinary individuals. The investigation raises concerns about privacy, fairness, and compliance with federal law.