On Friday, the Trump administration announced significant layoffs within the U.S. Department of Education, devastating the office responsible for overseeing special education programs.
This reduction-in-force (RIF) eliminated a substantial portion of the staff tasked with managing approximately $15 billion allocated for special education funding.
Their responsibilities included ensuring that states provide essential services to over 7.5 million children with disabilities, with one department employee stating, “This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.”
According to sources, nearly all personnel in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) were affected by the cuts, except for a few top officials and support staff.
OSERS is crucial for maintaining and implementing programs that assist students with disabilities, offering vital guidance to families and conducting oversight of state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Overall, the Education Department’s layoffs totaled 466 positions as part of broader job cuts affecting around 4,200 government jobs due to an ongoing government shutdown.
The exact number of reductions within the special education office remains unclear, as department officials have not responded to inquiries for clarification.
Rachel Gittleman, president of AFGE Local 252, a union representing many Education Department workers, commented on the situation, suggesting that most remaining staff in OSERS faced illegal termination.
She warned, “The harm these cuts will cause for the 7.5 million students with disabilities across the country is only beginning.”
Employees who received layoff notices were informed they would continue their employment until December 9.
Numerous federal workers, particularly within OSERS, expressed concern over essential responsibilities that might now be neglected, leading to a significant void impacting states, school districts, and families.
Created to enforce civil rights for students with disabilities, IDEA has guaranteed the right to a free and appropriate public education for all children with disabilities for 50 years.
Before its enactment, countless children were denied school access or confined to inadequate facilities that offered minimal educational opportunities and rights.
Under IDEA, states are required to submit data to OSERS demonstrating their compliance with federal regulations.
They must also provide annual plans and yearly applications to secure billions in IDEA funding for special education.
OSERS staff are responsible for evaluating these state plans and data to ensure compliance, and they have the authority to investigate if a state falls out of legal adherence intentionally or unintentionally.
Additionally, OSERS staff answer numerous inquiries from families seeking information about their children’s rights under federal disability laws, with many calls now going unanswered.
One affected worker elaborated, “I don’t think people realize how many calls we get from parents and families every day.”
The layoffs come amid President Trump’s ongoing commitment to devolve educational authority to the states, suggesting that dismantling the Education Department is part of this broader agenda.
Though these staff cuts do not currently affect special education funding to the states, concerns remain about the implications for students and their families at the state level.
A state director of special education expressed apprehension regarding the absence of federal oversight, emphasizing the importance of accountability.
“I’m fearful. I think it’s good for states to know there’s federal oversight and that they’ll be held accountable,” the official stated, reflecting fears that state interpretations of the law could vary significantly.
The legality of these cuts to OSERS has also come under scrutiny.
Federal law mandates an Office of Special Education Programs within the U.S. Department of Education to oversee funding and programs related to special education.
Sources have indicated that effectively disbanding the office through staff terminations would typically require congressional approval.
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