Education Department Faces Backlash After Special Education Office Shutdown
The Department of Education is catching serious heat after news broke that it eliminated its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services as part of a wave of layoffs triggered by the ongoing government shutdown.
According to the union representing agency employees, almost all staff in that division were let go last Friday.
The total number of layoffs still hasn’t been confirmed since the agency has yet to release any official numbers. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Education did confirm on Friday that the layoffs are part of a larger “workforce reduction” plan. They didn’t specify how many positions were cut—or which divisions took the hit.
To make things worse, a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget, where Director Russell Vought first announced the layoffs on X, called the government-wide cuts “substantial.” That word alone has parents, educators, and advocates fearing the worst.
Union Confirms Mass Layoffs Targeted Frontline Employees
Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, shared that early reports from staff and managers showed the layoffs mainly hit employees below leadership level—those who actually handle services and programs daily.
She explained, “It’s devastating. The people who show up every day for kids with disabilities, those who manage programs that level the playing field, are being cut first.”
Gittleman also mentioned that some workers from the TRIO college access program, which falls under a different department, were also included in the layoffs. These programs often provide low-income and disabled students with resources to get to and through college.
The news has left many families in limbo. Parents are now worried about how this move could impact special education services nationwide, especially for children with disabilities who depend on federally funded programs.
Advocates Say the Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The layoffs come at a time when schools are already struggling to fill teacher shortages and manage increased demand for mental health and special education support.
Advocates argue that cutting the Office of Special Education sends a dangerous message about priorities. It leaves millions of families questioning whether their children’s rights will still be protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
“These are not just numbers—they’re people who made sure federal laws protecting students with disabilities were enforced,” said one education advocate. “When the government shuts down programs like this, it’s the students who pay the price.”
Government Shutdown Hits Education Sector Hard
The current government shutdown has forced agencies to make deep cuts, but this particular move has shocked even seasoned insiders. Normally, special education and rehabilitation programs are seen as essential services.
This time, however, the Department of Education appears to be treating them as expendable.
Critics point out that the decision could set back decades of progress for inclusive education.
Local school districts, already stretched thin, may have to shoulder even more of the responsibility. With funding uncertain, smaller schools in low-income areas could be hit the hardest.