Last month, the Trump administration continued their push to dismantle the Department of Education by moving to transfer many programs to other federal agencies. The Department of Education’s proposal would place the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Department of Labor, which makes no sense. They want to shift programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services, thereby removing them from the supervision of education experts. These moves would put oversight and educational services for students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, students experiencing homelessness, students in foster care, English language learners, and more at risk.

On Saturday, November 29, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the law that governs special education in public schools. But with Trump’s moves to dismantle the Department of Education, he’s simultaneously attacking special education in our schools.

Before IDEA became law, 1.8 million children with special needs were denied access to public education; now 7.6 million children receive special education and related services and can dream about their future. Now that access―and the very rights of students―is at risk. At the beginning of his administration, Donald Trump gutted the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Education by cutting its staff in half and closing 7 of the 12 regional offices. Most of the complaints lodged with the office involved disability and sex-based discrimination.

This administration’s new plans to break off pieces and programs under the Department of Education’s purview and ship them to other federal agencies are unacceptable. By federal law, only Congress has the authority to change the department’s responsibilities. While some are taking the fight to the courts, CHN and many partners are speaking out, calling on Congress to do its duty and stop the administration from gutting this vital department. We must stand up against this betrayal of millions of public school students across the country. Public education―a cornerstone of our democracy―is at risk.

As Congressional leaders cast doubt on moving spending bills before the end of the year, CHN and our allies are keeping the pressure on. Here are additional resources from CHN members and partners to support this effort:

• EdTrust with CHN and others: 60+ Civil Rights and Education Organizations’ Joint Statement on the Illegal Transferring of Key Roles and Responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Education
• NEA: Trump administration robs students of educational opportunity with announcement to dismantle Department of Education and Don’t Let the Trump Administration Dismantle the Department of Education
• First Focus Administration aims to eliminate one-and-only cabinet agency devoted to children and on the CHN blog: Recent Actions by the Trump Administration Target Children with Disabilities
• NWLC: NWLC Slams Trump Administration for Gutting Department of Education and Failing Students
• ASAN: What is happening at the Department of Education?
• NCJW: In America, Every Child Deserves to Learn and Thrive: NCJW Condemns Illegal Move to Further Dismantle US Department of Education
• CAP: IDEA at 50: Resources To Support Students With Disabilities During the Week of Action, The Trump Administration’s Recent Special Education Layoffs Will Have Major Long-Term Impacts on Disabled Children and Students (note: not updated since the Senate spending deal undid the Administration’s October RIFs), and The Trump Administration’s War on Disability
• The Arc and Council for Exceptional Children recording: Virtual Town Hall – To Protect Children with Disabilities & Protect IDEA and Amplification Toolkit: Protect Children with Disabilities, Protect IDEA