URGENT: Trump Administration Abruptly Disbands Key Department Overseeing Special Education Amid Shutdown

BREAKING NEWS: Trump Administration Abruptly Disbands Key Department Overseeing Special Education Amid Shutdown The Trump administration has abruptly disbanded the Office of Special Education Programs, a key department within the U.S. Department of Education, effective immediately. The move was announced on Friday and affects dozens of staff responsible for overseeing $15 billion in special education funding. The reduction-in-force (RIF) will severely impact the nation's 7.5 million children with disabilities, who rely on these services to access education. "This is decimating the office responsible for safeguarding the rights of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities," said a department employee. The Office of Special Education Programs was created in 1975 to ensure states provide special education services to students with disabilities. The department's staff worked closely with state officials to monitor compliance and distribute funding. As a result of the RIF, critical functions will be severely disrupted, including monitoring state compliance with federal regulations and distributing funds for special education programs. It is unclear who will take over these responsibilities or how they will be fulfilled. This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*