Many of the office’s cases over the decades have served as a catalyst for broader policy change and social reforms.

The layoffs call into question how agency will be able to handle major operations such as student loans, FAFSA, the Nation’s Report Card and civil rights complaints.

The Education Department’s civil rights office has been among the hardest hit by layoffs, with the Trump administration shuttering seven of its 12 regional offices and laying off nearly half of its staff.