Action Alert: Advocate Now for the Office of Special Education and OSERS

Last week the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) within the Department of Education was in effect extinguished with sweeping layoffs. This move is a threat to our students with disabilities and their futures. We will update this page below with information and resources on what happened, why it matters and WHAT YOU CAN DO.
(Below Updated October. 25, 2025)

What Happened?

Over the weekend of October 10th The Office of Special Education laid off nearly all employees in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

From Disability Scoop: Ed Department Lays Off Nearly All Special Education Staff
From K-12 Dive: What to know about the Education Department’s latest round of RIFs

As of October 15th, a California judge has temporarily blocked the administration from firing federal workers during the shutdown. Nonetheless, the threat of dismantling the Department of Education remains. (Get more information at Disability Scoop or Education Week)

A coalition of disability, civil rights, and education organizations have called on Congress to reverse layoffs at Department of Education. (Arlington SEPTA signed the letter on Oct 15th.) See the list of organizations and the letter here: https://www.copaa.org/news/712419/#:~:text=The%20undersigned%20organizations%20urge%20the,our%20nation’s%20children%20with%20disabilities.

Arlington SEPTA also sent a letter to Senators Kaine and Warner and Representative Beyer on October 20th urging them to keep speaking up for the Department of Education and students and adults with disabilities. On November 5th Rep. Don Beyer’s office responded with this email.

On Oct. 23rd 60+ organizations called on Congress to “conduct an oversight hearing of the Executive Branch as it actively seeks to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (Department) and decimate implementation of key education and disability laws.” 

On Oct. 29th, according to the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates multiple press outlets are reporting that Secretary of Education (ED) Linda McMahon -as verified through ED’s communications office- is working to “make good on pledges” from the President to close the department and send programs, including activities related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) elsewhere.

Why does it Matter?

Destroying OSERS will harm students with disabilities and their families, as well as adults with disabilities. It will weaken and prevent the enforcement of key disability and civil rights laws and reduce critical resources.

What do these offices do?
In short, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is the office that oversees OSEP and RSA.

• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) oversees Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) implementation and enforcement, distributes federal funding to states, and addresses state and local violations of IDEA.
• The Rehabilitative Services Administration (RSA) focuses on resources and programs that transition individuals with disabilities to adulthood, promoting employment and independence so they can contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The recent layoffs mean the Department of Education will not have the staffing to meet its obligations to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with disabilities or ensure adults with disabilities have access to employment supports.

Here is DC News Now segment on the layoffs, including an interview with former Fairfax SEPTA President, Michelle Cades.

What can I do?

You only need a couple minutes to take action right now!

On Nov 4th a ‘Protect IDEA Virtual Nationwide Town Hall’ was held by 7 national advocacy organizations. You can view the recording here or view their Toolkit providing actionable next steps.

Contact lawmakers to tell them to protect students and adults with disabilities.

You can use any of these organizations’ very quick and easy to use forms that will send an email to your representatives for you:

National PTA
Council for Exceptional Children
The Arc
National Down Syndrome Congress
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
National Center for Learning Disabilities
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Autism Society

Use the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)’s form to contact your representatives and request an Oversight Hearing.

Call and Write Your Own Letters

Share your concerns and your stories with your representatives.

You can find your Senators and Representatives and their contact information at congress.gov/members/find-your-member or at senate.gov and house.gov.

The National Down Syndrome Congress and the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund have offered helpful phone and email scripts for contacting lawmakers.

Some FAQs

Does this mean IDEA can’t be enforced?
IDEA IS STILL LAW! States, districts and schools MUST comply with IDEA even if the federal office is short staffed.

Why can’t the work of OSERS be done by states?
Among many other things, OSEP is responsible for monitoring and holding states accountable for upholding IDEA. As history has proven, repeatedly, not all states will enforce IDEA without federal oversight.

The Education Secretary said “No education funding is impacted by the RIF.”
While funding remains in place for the current fiscal year, there is no question this will affect longer term program funding and effectiveness without adequate staffing.