Kimberly Ritchie, President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR), told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on June 5 that she would prioritize investigations into antisemitism and other civil‑rights complaints if confirmed.

Ritchie said, "If I'm confirmed, the department will not stand idly by while Jewish students are attacked and discriminated against," and vowed OCR would "vigorously" enforce Title VI and related civil‑rights laws. She also told senators she is "always going to advocate for OCR to have the resources that it needs to do its job."

The hearing focused sharply on OCR staffing and capacity. Senators cited multiple changes at the department, including the closure of seven of OCR's 12 regional offices and the firing of nearly 300 OCR staff. Committee members said those moves left investigators with sharply increased caseloads; the transcript records investigators' caseloads rising from about 42 cases per investigator to roughly 115 in some offices. Lawmakers also raised inconsistent public figures for OCR's backlog: a department statement had suggested 2,500 cases while other committee exchanges referenced a figure of 25,000.

Ranking members and committee Democrats repeatedly linked the staffing changes to the department's ability to pursue discrimination complaints. Senator Patty Murray asked Ritchie whether, if confirmed, she would ensure the National Center for Education Statistics and OCR meet statutory obligations; Ritchie said she would "absolutely" ensure the department follows laws passed by Congress and that she would "advocate" for OCR resources. Senator Tammy Baldwin emphasized claims that the administration's budget request would further reduce OCR funding and expressed concern about the effect on investigations and enforcement.

Senators from both parties pressed Ritchie on how OCR should apply Supreme Court precedent and federal civil‑rights law to disputes over athletics and sex‑based protections. Ritchie described a nuanced approach: "students who file complaints with OCR alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity...those cases would be investigated by OCR consistent with Title IX, with the Bostock case and with OCR's regulations," and said OCR had previously taken enforcement action in athletic cases involving biological males competing in women's athletics.

Committee members also raised web accessibility and services for students with disabilities after the administration reduced staff focused on digital accessibility. Ritchie said websites and apps must be accessible under Section 504 and that she would prioritize web accessibility and outreach if confirmed.

Why it matters: OCR enforces Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments; reduced investigative staff and closed regional offices can slow or limit OCR's ability to resolve complaints and to conduct directed investigations into campus antisemitism, disability access, and other categories of discrimination. Several senators told the committee they want OCR to provide clear public reporting on caseloads and monitoring activity.

Ritchie repeatedly declined to explain or defend specific recent enforcement steps taken by the department while she is still a nominee, citing lack of access to internal case files. Instead she committed to reviewing caseloads, staff distribution and organizational structure "and help the secretary come up with a very strategic plan" to address the backlog and shifting priorities.

The hearing did not include a committee vote on Ritchie's nomination. Senators may submit written questions for the record; committee staff announced questions for the record were due June 6.