ProPublica has initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education due to the agency's failure to provide records related to civil rights investigations in schools. This lack of transparency has persisted since January 2025, when the department stopped updating its public list of investigations. Reporters Jodi Cohen and Jennifer Smith Richards highlighted that the department has shifted its focus under the Trump administration, prioritizing cases involving antisemitism and transgender athletes while neglecting racial harassment complaints. Despite multiple Freedom of Information Act requests, the department has not provided any records, prompting ProPublica to take legal action. The organization argues that public access to these records is essential for accountability and transparency in education. The lawsuit underscores the broader challenges journalists face in obtaining information from government agencies, particularly amid staffing cuts that have affected Freedom of Information offices. ProPublica remains committed to fighting for the data that the public is entitled to, emphasizing the importance of transparency in addressing civil rights issues in education.