STATEMENT: It’s On Us Executive Director Responds to Trump Administration Shifting Office for Civil Rights to Justice Department

Leading Campus Sexual Assault Prevention Organization Highlights Wide-Reaching Consequences of the New Agreement on the Safety and Civil Rights of Students Nationwide

Washington, DC: Today, following the Department of Education’s announcement that the Office for Civil Rights will move to the Department of Justice, It’s On Us Executive Director Tracey Vitchers spoke out on the impact on students and campus communities nationwide. After years-long delays and changes to Title IX and the systematic dismantling of the Department of Education, this agreement will not only endanger the enforcement of Title IX, but it will also harm other resources used to support student survivors and prevent campus sexual assault from occurring in the first place, including the Clery Act and Campus SaVE Act.

In response to today’s announcement, It’s On Us Executive Director Tracey Vitchers said: 

“Today’s announcement that the Department of Education is shifting responsibility for civil rights enforcement to the Department of Justice will have both an immediate and long-term impact on students on campuses across the country. This new agreement is a clear indication of the administration’s intent to eventually shutter the Department of Education as a whole, with severe and harmful consequences for the safety and civil rights of student survivors nationwide. 

“This decision is a result of a self-inflicted problem created by this administration. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened fewer than 10 investigations into sexual violence incidents under Title IX and resolved only 1% of cases in total in the past year — the lowest number of resolution agreements in over a decade. This is not a coincidence — it is the direct impact of staff reductions that gutted the Office for Civil Rights’ capacity to resolve complaints in March 2025. Shifting enforcement to the Department of Justice will not solve self-created capacity issues to investigate complaints. Rather, it will only exacerbate the challenges by giving an even greater caseload to the Department of Justice, showing a blatant disregard for student safety that will likely result in even fewer investigations being opened and completed. 

“As we approach Title IX’s 54th anniversary on June 23, student survivors deserve to know their complaints will be investigated. Instead, students will be left with no viable path to seek recourse against their institutions under Title IX in the aftermath of sexual violence, ultimately making our campus communities less safe for all students. Through these changes, It’s On Us will continue to prioritize students, survivors and school communities, and will keep students updated on the resources and support available.”

Press interested in speaking with Tracey Vitchers should contact press@civicnation.org. 

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ABOUT It’s On Us:

It’s On Us is building the movement to combat campus sexual assault by engaging all students, including young men, through grassroots organizing, prevention education programs, and large-scale culture change campaigns. Founded as a public awareness campaign of the Obama-Biden White House following recommendations from the White House Task Force to Prevent Sexual Assault, It’s On Us has grown into the nation’s largest student organizing program dedicated to college sexual assault prevention, activating students on hundreds of campuses through awareness and education programs. It’s On Us is committed to shifting the culture around campus sexual assault through partnerships with media and brands that engage with millions of college students every day. It’s On Us is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is an impact hub for ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen civic culture, power, and participation. Rooted in purpose and powered by people, Civic Nation brings together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, brands, and influencers to take on the biggest issues of our time. Civic Nation is home to five national initiatives: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It’s On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.