In a move that has sparked significant concern among disability advocates and Democratic lawmakers, the U.S. Department of Education is facing proposed mass layoffs that could potentially disrupt the services provided to millions of students with disabilities. The proposed reduction in force (RIF) under President Donald Trump’s administration has raised questions about the department’s ability to fulfill its legal obligations for special education.
The Trump administration is considering transferring special education programs to another department, which has further heightened concerns. Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, commented, “If we’ve learned anything this year, it’s that the fight is just beginning.”
Earlier this month, during an ongoing government shutdown, key units within the department, which are essential to students with disabilities, were significantly reduced. These offices manage $15 billion in grant programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), offer guidance and support to families and states, and handle discrimination complaints based on disability. A federal judge has temporarily blocked these layoffs, providing short-term relief.
The proposed layoffs affect 465 employees, with significant impacts on the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), and Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Other offices, including the Office of the Secretary, Office of Communications, and Office of Postsecondary Education, are also impacted.
Gittleman emphasized the interconnected nature of these offices, stating, “You can’t look at any of this in a silo.” She described the civil rights office as “the place that ensures families have a place to go for help when students are denied access for education based on their disability.”
Parents as Advocates
Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, highlighted the challenges facing the enforcement of IDEA rights, given the reduced government capacity. OSERS, responsible for overseeing IDEA, ensures a free public education for students with disabilities. Neas expressed concern over the complexity of the law, noting, “You take away the knowledge of the folks at the U.S. Department of Education at the Office of Special Education Programs… you need that trusted source of accurate information.”
During the 2022-2023 school year, 7.5 million U.S. students received services through IDEA, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Neas urged parents to “know your rights” and to ensure their child’s educational needs are met.
‘Flabbergasted’
Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO at the National Center for Learning Disabilities, expressed disbelief at the proposed reductions, stating they would make it “impossible” for the Office of Special Education Programs to fulfill its requirements. She noted the critical role of these offices in monitoring, compliance, guidance, and support.
Rodriguez also highlighted past assurances from Education Secretary Linda McMahon regarding support for students with disabilities, contrasting them with the current situation. After the layoff notices, McMahon downplayed the impact of the shutdown, asserting that “no education funding is impacted by the RIF, including funding for special education.”
Congressional Democrats’ Opposition
Democratic lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the layoffs. Representatives Lucy McBath, Mark DeSaulnier, and Lateefah Simon led an October 17 letter urging Secretary McMahon and White House budget director Russ Vought to reverse the layoffs.
In a separate letter to McMahon, 31 Senate Democrats criticized the layoffs as “punitive” and “reckless,” with Sen. Patty Murray and other key Democratic leaders calling the actions “outrageous — and flatly unacceptable.”
