The nonprofit Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates filed a class-action lawsuit Friday against the United States Department of Education for allegedly obstructing its own Office for Civil Rights.

California and other Democratic states allege Trump's cuts amount to an illegal shutdown of the Education Department's congressionally mandated work, including protecting civil rights.

A new lawsuit argues that recent layoffs undermine the office’s ability to investigate complaints of discrimination from all students, not just those aligned with President Trump’s agenda.