Corey Turner

Their work is to investigate families' complaints of school-based discrimination related to sex, race, disability, and more.

The courts paused the firings, so the Trump administration then made a choice.

For nearly nine months, it kept these staff on paid leave instead of letting them work.

Now, the U.S.

Government Accountability Office says the cost of that lost work in salary and benefits was between $28.5 and $38 million.

The administration pushed back, saying since these staff were finally allowed to work in December, it considers the issue moot.

Corey Turner, NPR News.

NPR's Corey Turner reports.

Last March, the administration tried to fire some 300 attorneys and staff from the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights.

Their work is to investigate families' complaints of school-based discrimination related to sex, race, disability, and more.

The courts paused the firings, so the Trump administration then made a choice.

For nearly nine months, it kept these staff on paid leave instead of letting them work.

Now, the U.S.

Government Accountability Office says the cost of that lost work in salary and benefits was between $28.5 and $38 million.

The administration pushed back, saying since these staff were finally allowed to work in December, it considers the issue moot.

Corey Turner, NPR News.

The L.A.

Yeah, I think dire is pretty fair.

Although I want to start with a glimmer of hope or at least some good news.

You know, some kids with disabilities, for example, are benefiting from AI improvements to things like text-to-speech programs.