Division of Training Cuts Threaten Particular Training Protections
The following is a personal essay that reflects the opinions and experiences of its author.
October 16, 2025
This November marks the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a landmark law that shapes the educational experiences of more than 7.5 million students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) across the United States.
In exchange for federal funding, states must provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education; the IDEA governs this and how an IEP (Individualized Education Program) is structured, built to address a student’s needs, and implemented in the classroom. Central to the IDEA’s effectiveness is federal monitoring of state compliance; however, that enforcement structure is now under serious threat.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration effectively killed the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) — an office within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) responsible for enforcing IDEA provisions and supporting families — by reducing its workforce to fewer than six employees, a 95% cut since the start of 2025.
OSEP ensures schools follow the IDEA by setting policy, monitoring state compliance, investigating violations, and intervening when children with disabilities are not receiving their legally mandated services.
The Trump administration has long threatened to dismantle or drastically reduce the ED. Between layoffs earlier in 2025 and these latest cuts, the office that once held schools accountable is now unable to function.
[Quiz: How Well Do You Know U.S. Education Law?]
Importantly, the IDEA remains in effect. Your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) continues to be a legally binding document that must be implemented exactly as written and agreed upon. If you disagree with any aspect of the IEP, whether that’s the content or the procedures followed, you still have the right to challenge the district’s decisions or inaction through the administrative review process.
Additionally, Section 504 Plan protections still exist, and your state education agency is still obligated to ensure compliance. (A Section 504 Plan, which arises under a different federal law that bars discrimination against individuals with disabilities.)
However, without adequate staffing at the federal level, funding disbursements may be delayed, potentially causing states to face budget crises that leave them unable to pay service providers. The cuts may also halt investigations into complaints filed with OSEP and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which handles disability discrimination complaints under Section 504. If these offices lack the personnel to monitor state compliance with federal law, then enforcement becomes impossible, regardless of what the IDEA or Section 504 requires.
Caregiver Advocacy Tips
While these drastic changes and cuts are alarming, there are steps caregivers can take to protect their child’s services and stay informed about changes at the local level.
- Gather information from your district. Contact your district’s special education office and ask whether it is anticipating any cuts to special education funding or staffing. Do not assume staffers will provide this information unprompted. Find Your Federal, State, and Local Representatives here.
- Monitor services closely. Watch for personnel cutbacks, including special education teachers, related service providers, and paraprofessionals. Track any reductions in services or scheduling changes. Keep a log of anything that may not appear to be compliant with your child’s IEP or 504 Plan, and save all emails and communications about your child’s services.
- Be proactive about IEP meetings. Do not wait for an invitation to an annual IEP meeting. Reach out two to three months before it is due to schedule, so that you have time to invite any outside providers or evaluators to the meeting. Remember that you can request an IEP meeting at any time if you have concerns about your child’s progress or services.
- Build relationships. Federal policy can feel distant and abstract, but the teachers and providers working with your child every day are your partners. Connect with them regularly, not just when problems arise. Network with other parents facing similar challenges. Collective advocacy is powerful, and connecting with other families can provide insight into systemic issues in your district.
- Learn your rights. Familiarize yourself with the IDEA and your state’s specific education laws. Review the procedural safeguards that your school is required to provide and keep them in a safe place so that you are prepared when you need them.
[Watch: “Are My Students’ ADHD Accommodations in Danger? Fallout from the Department of Education Changes”]
As the IDEA reaches its 50th anniversary, the responsibility for protecting students’ rights has shifted even more onto the shoulders of parents and state agencies. Staying engaged has never been more crucial.
Department of Education Cuts: Next Steps
The law office of Dominic Buchmiller, Esq., is dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the free and appropriate education to which they are entitled. Our mission is to advocate for students and families, securing the services and programming necessary for each child to hit their necessary milestones.
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