The Trump Administration’s Recent Attack on the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
Donald Trump signing an order in the Oval Office. Public Domain
On Oct. 10, the Trump Administration officially announced the large-scale elimination of positions in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. This office is responsible for the oversight and enforcement of special education services, making this substantial news, as our nation’s citizens include 7.5 million children with disabilities.
This move is not uncharacteristic for the Trump administration, as this past March, an executive order was passed that pushed for the shutdown of several functions of the Department of Education. Among these is the highly contested declaration that to continue receiving funds from the Department of Education, all programs must end any diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
This may sound especially familiar, as we have already seen this at Marist University, with the Department of DEI transitioning into the Office of Community and Belonging, run by Dr. Edward Antonio, the former vice president of the Office of DEI.
The recent RIF–Reduction in Force– that took out over 4,000 positions, specifically 466 positions in the Education Department, was halted by federal judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. On the matter, Illston said, the recent action taken is "both illegal and in excess of authority and is arbitrary and capricious."
Illston granted two unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a temporary restraining order preventing new firings while holding off on some layoffs already in motion until the next hearing.
While this RIF has been temporarily halted in part, this still raises immediate concerns for the future of the nation’s special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975, which means it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The act guarantees that students with disabilities are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), further demanding that their education is tailored to their specific needs. This covers education services for children up to 21 years old, additionally helping to fund said services.
This is incredibly beneficial for families of children with disabilities, expanding their options for education and schooling, no matter where they are located or what financial circumstances they are facing. Not only does it affect the families, but also those responsible for the student’s education. Teachers are already facing enough backlash in and outside of the classroom, especially after the decreases in literacy and math proficiency after COVID-19. The loss of funding from the destruction of this department will create yet another issue facing underpaid and undervalued educators.
“It's something that will not only affect the student, but also affect your classroom,” said Sofia Grasso ‘29, an education major and aspiring teacher of the future. "It has almost always been part of the teacher's job to help enforce the services that students may need in the classroom. But, now more than ever, it's time for teachers to advocate for students to get these services, so that they can thrive in the classroom setting."
Grasso believes that the future of education is in the hands of everyday Americans.
“Especially as an educator, it's important to kind of put what you want to see for your own career and for the good of your future students at the forefront when voting,” Grasso said. “So it really depends on us, and we can change things based on how we vote.”
The next hearing on the issue is scheduled for Oct. 28, where Illston will allow both sides to showcase their arguments. Hopefully, the education of children with disabilities is protected, and the damage is mitigated, although much has already been done.