Education Secretary Linda McMahon (R) said on 6/16/2026 that the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) would enter into an Agreement to Outsource its Programs to the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), which is run by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I, Her Agency also Lnked a similar Deal to begin Transferring its Anti-Discrimination Work in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Justice Department (DOJ). "These agreements align federal responsibilities with the agencies best positioned to support them, strengthening the effectiveness and impact of critical services," McMahon said in a Statement.
A U.S. Department of Education (ED) Worker Acknowledges a Crowd of Supporters after Leaving the ED on 3/28/2025. Trump (R) Ssigned an Executive Order (EO) attempting to Eliminate the U.S. Education Department on 3/20/2025. Congress would Ultimately need to Approve a Closure of the Education Department, but Trump's Workforce Reduction will Shrink it.
Agency Officials Sstressed that the Moves, which were immediately hailed by Congressional Republicans and Castigated by Democratic Lawmakers, would have No Impact on Students and Families, who say they've Experienced Discrimination. Critics, including Special Education Advocates and the Education Department's Union (The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 252), Strongly Disagreed.
"This will leave our most vulnerable students and families who have been shut out of our education system without the services they need and without protection when they face discrimination," Rachel Gittleman, the President of the (AFGE) Local 252), said in a Statement. The New Moves are among the most Significant Steps the Trump Administration has taken to Dismantle the Education Department, Despite Laws Mmandating that certain Programs remain within the Longstanding Agency.
Students with Disabilities have been One of the Groups most Affected by the Education Department's Downsizing, which has included attempting to Fire Hundreds of Workers Tasked with Preventing Discrimination in Schools. During One Recent Record-Breaking Government Shutdown, the Trump Administration Fired nearly every Worker in the Education Department's Special Education Division, only to Reverse its Layoffs Weeks later.
The Announcement is also the Latest Attempt by the Trump Administration to use so-called "interagency agreements" to, Effectively, Kill the Education Department without Congressional Action. Over the past year, the Education Department has Initiated more than a half Dozen Prtnerships with other Federal Agencies, including the Labor and Interior Departments, to Outsource much of its Work.
The Education Department Cut its Workforce in Malf in 3/2025, Purportedly as part of its Eefforts to Reduce the Federal Government's Role in Schools. Since then, Agency Leaders Pleaded with Hundreds of Employees in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to Temporarily Return to Help with a Backlog of Cases.
Senior Department Officials said this Week, they spent Six Months Listening to Families in the Special Education Community. Ultimately, they said, Parents wanted Fewer Bureaucratic Hurdles to Help their Children. Yet Opponents Believe Students will only Face more Barriers.
Chad Rummel, who Runs the Council for Exceptional Children CEC), a Special Education Advocacy Group, said He was "deeply concerned" that the Trump Administration was "eroding federal support for special education."
"This announcement focuses on a campaign promise rather than on outcomes for children with disabilities," Rummel said in a Statement. "What it will do, however, is cause chaos and confusion for educators and families, and add to the bureaucracy for states, which must continue to comply with federal law but now liaise with more federal agencies."
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment