Trump Cuts to US Department of Education Impacts Civil Rights Cases and Special Needs Programs
The Trump administration announced plans in March to close the office of the Department of Education (DOE) and began laying off staff, moving services to other agencies and shuttering offices. While the full impact of these actions has yet to be felt, there are some immediate impacts.The most immediate direct impact is the closing of some regional locations of the Office of Civil Rights, specifically the California office located in San Francisco. Currently, California has over 700 pending complaints of civil rights violations in schools. Civil rights cases include cases of improper or missing support for students with an IEP, 504, physical disabilities, as well as, racial, religious, and/or other discrimination. At this time, none of the cases have been reassigned.
Additionally, the administration has ordered a halt to almost 90 contracts and 30 grants to the Institute of Education Sciences; one of the most impactful is the study of interventions to improve outcomes for students with ADHD.
The DOE funds the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free public education. It does so mostly through the use of an Independent Education Plan (IEP) and/or a “504 plan” which references Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These plans provide detailed specifics as to the support needed, including, but not limited to: note takers (either through a person or specialized pen, additional time on exams, keyboard entry rather than handwriting, each item tailored to provide the appropriate support for each learning difference, allowing the student to learn with less impediment.
Currently, there are approximately 7.5 million students being serviced under IDEA. It is proposed these plans will move to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Actual impact is unknown, however, there are real concerns about supporting the needs which are mainly educational, not medical. And, concern over how the head of HHS perceives learning differences, as an illness requiring medical treatment and isolation from society rather than as a requirement to provide educational support as defined above.
While outside of the DOE, other administration decisions are immediately impacting education. One such action is the pulling of NIH research funding for graduate programs throughout the United States. This has resulted in cancellation of graduate programs and rescinding of admissions for some 2025 PhD entrants. For example, UCSD has cut 30% of its admissions to the Biological Science PhD Program. Even institutions that have not cut student admissions are taking protective actions with hiring freezes and a reduction in research scope.
There are indirect impacts as well. With fewer graduate students, staffing for teaching assistants, labs, libraries, animal and human care clinics will be impacted as well. Student medical centers, often a place for low-income and seniors, will likely need to cut hours and support. Most of the impact will be felt next school year, as each program is seated into its new department and new funding rounds will need to be approved.
Hollis Bischoff, CEP - she/her/hers/they/them
Certified Educational Planner
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