After the Shutdown: Unresolved Questions About Federal Oversight of Special Education

November 21, 2025

How the U.S. Government Shutdown and Reductions in Force Disrupted Federal IDEA Oversight

As the federal government shutdown dragged on in 2025, the US Department of Education moved forward with reduction‑in‑force (RIF) actions that had been planned as part of a broader restructuring. Because these actions coincided with the shutdown, their impact on the special‑education offices was especially disruptive.

Almost every employee supporting special education was issued a RIF notice, with fewer than 10 staffers remaining to do work previously handled by more than 100 people. The cuts were especially severe in the offices of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), which oversee funding and enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

McMahon’s Reorganization Plan: Moving Key Functions to Other Agencies

On November 18, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced a restructuring plan that would move several Education Department functions to other federal agencies, such as the Labor Department. While details are still emerging, the proposal includes reallocating parts of OSEP and RSA’s oversight and compliance work.

This kind of shift would mark a major change in how IDEA enforcement is coordinated at the federal level. Advocates warn that moving these responsibilities outside the Department of Education could further dilute federal expertise and continuity in IDEA oversight.

How Staffing Cuts Limit Federal IDEA Enforcement and Support

With the staffing cuts, the agency lacks personnel to process state monitoring, respond to parent/guardian questions, investigate complaints under IDEA or the civil rights laws, and support schools and districts in meeting obligations. Some responsibilities may shift to other federal agencies or to the states, but advocates warn of wide variation in special‑education services if the federal oversight is diminished and states take on uneven responsibilities.

Photo of a puzzle map of the United States, symbolizing the potential for fragmented oversight if responsibilities shift to states.

Uncertain Future for Federal IDEA Oversight as Reorganization Continues

As the government reopens, some staff are being brought back, suggesting the large-scale RIF plan may be scaled back or paused. A recent funding bill also blocked several of the planned layoffs. Still, it’s not clear whether the special-education offices will be restored to full capacity or restructured as the Department’s broader plan advances.

Even with some staff returning, the long-term structure of the special-education offices remains unclear. Key questions remain about the federal role in monitoring and enforcing IDEA. Staff have reported ongoing uncertainty about job security and workflow as the Department evaluates possible reorganization, including whether functions currently housed in OSEP or RSA could be reassigned to other federal agencies.

A shift in responsibility from the federal level to the states is a central concern, and advocates are calling for congressional oversight hearings and greater transparency about what the Department intends to do. As of now, no final regulation, policy document, or congressional action has been issued that resolves the federal oversight question, so the long-term direction remains unsettled.

Key Issues to Watch as Federal Oversight Evolves

Restoration of staffing: Will the OSEP/RSA staff return to previous levels, or will there be a new, leaner structure?
Federal vs. state responsibility: Will the federal government continue to play its oversight role under IDEA, or will more responsibility shift to states without appropriate resources?
Legal/legislative action: Will Congress hold hearings or pass legislation to protect the federal role in special education?
Impact on students: Schools, districts, and parents of students with disabilities should monitor how these changes affect timely evaluation, services, complaint investigations, and state/federal accountability.
Stability moving forward: Even though the shutdown is over, the long‑term policy direction of the Education Department may change — whether it scales back emphasis on enforcement of IDEA or otherwise changes how the federal government supports special education.

Watch for updates on this issue on TypeWell’s DEIA Watch page.

Earlier coverage from TypeWell:

Accessibility at Risk: The Unfolding Impact of 2025 Disability Policy Changes on Accessibility Services in the United States

OCR Layoffs Undermine Civil Rights Protections for American Students

After the Shutdown: Unresolved Questions About Federal Oversight of Special Education

After the Shutdown: Unresolved Questions About Federal Oversight of Special Education

How the U.S. Government Shutdown and Reductions in Force Disrupted Federal IDEA Oversight

McMahon’s Reorganization Plan: Moving Key Functions to Other Agencies

How Staffing Cuts Limit Federal IDEA Enforcement and Support

Uncertain Future for Federal IDEA Oversight as Reorganization Continues

Key Issues to Watch as Federal Oversight Evolves

Watch for updates on this issue on TypeWell’s DEIA Watch page.

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