Last Friday, the federal Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) faced a staggering blow as nearly all but two senior staff members received reduction-in-force notices. This unprecedented move is just a part of a widespread layoff epidemic affecting approximately 460 employees across the department — a shocking one in five workers displaced. But the devastation wrought upon OSEP is particularly egregious, striking at the heart of support for millions of disabled children across the nation.
OSEP is tasked with overseeing funding related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is crucial for the approximately 7.5 million disabled students who rely on Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). The federal government is mandated to cover up to 40 percent of the costs associated with these plans, yet the actual contribution hovers around a mere 13 percent. This systemic failure to adequately fund special education has persisted for years, but the current administration’s actions threaten to exacerbate the crisis.
Despite the Department of Education distributing around $15 billion in 2024 to support disabled students, the layoffs have left OSEP staff reeling. One employee, whose identity remains anonymous, expressed shock at the layoffs, stating that such drastic measures had never been discussed within the division. The absence of contingency plans for the distribution of IDEA funds in light of these layoffs poses a grave risk to the educational prospects of disabled students.
In a cynical twist, the Education Department has not offered any transparency regarding how these funding cuts will impact students. When approached for comment, the department responded with an automated message indicating that the press staff had been furloughed, further exemplifying the lack of accountability and communication under this administration.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon previously assured the public that even amidst plans to dismantle the Department of Education, funding for students with disabilities would be safeguarded. However, these recent layoffs have cast significant doubt upon those assurances. Special education attorney Michael Gilberg voiced concerns that without adequate staffing to manage fund distribution, states and local districts could face shortfalls that would directly harm students with disabilities. He boldly stated that this negligence represents a violation of federal law, as funds obligated to the states may not reach those in need.
Katy Neas, CEO of the Arc, emphasized that OSEP’s responsibilities extend beyond mere financial distribution. The office plays a vital role in monitoring compliance with IDEA, ensuring states provide necessary data on student progress. The dismantling of this oversight could lead to a total collapse of the systems designed to support vulnerable students. Neas aptly noted that the loss of OSEP staff would obliterate a robust monitoring system, leaving disabled students adrift in a bureaucratic void.
This attack on IDEA funding is not an isolated incident. Just recently, OSEP canceled grants intended to provide crucial technical assistance for Deaf-Blind students. Advocacy groups, including the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates and the Council of Administrators of Special Education, sent a pointed letter to McMahon, emphasizing that such grants are essential for ensuring all children and youth with disabilities have equitable opportunities for success. In a rare moment of pushback, the Education Department reversed its decision on funding cuts for Deaf-Blind students, but this should not obscure the underlying issues at play.
While the current administration may champion these cuts, it is critical to acknowledge that there exists bipartisan support for disability education services. Companion bills in both the House and Senate aim to fulfill the federal commitment to fund IEPs up to 40 percent. Yet, despite this political backing, the reality on the ground is starkly different.
Neas pointedly remarked that access to essential support for disabled students will become increasingly elusive, even if the law ostensibly protects their rights. She astutely implored that “we need the adults to follow what the law requires of them,” highlighting the urgent need for a government that is financially equipped to meet its obligations to these children and their families.
The ongoing dismantling of the support systems for disabled students is not merely a bureaucratic issue; it is a moral failure of the highest order. The systemic inequities that allow such egregious cuts to occur must be challenged and dismantled. We must hold our leaders accountable to ensure that every disabled child receives the education and support they deserve, not just in theory, but in practice. The stakes could not be higher.
