1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

BLOCK Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s attempt to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice. The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) administers programs connected to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and provides essential oversight to help ensure that students with disabilities receive the services, accommodations, and educational access guaranteed under federal law. Special education must remain integrated with the broader work of the Department of Education. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) protects students from discrimination based on disability, race, national origin, sex, and other protected characteristics. Its investigators and attorneys have specialized knowledge of schools, colleges, classroom access, discipline, harassment, language access, and educational equity. Transferring this work will weaken enforcement and place vulnerable students at greater risk. Congress created these offices and placed their responsibilities within the Department of Education. Federal law requires OSERS to exist within the department. The administration should not be permitted to evade Congress by outsourcing the offices’ day-to-day operations while leaving only nominal oversight behind. Please pass legislation blocking these transfers, prohibit federal funds from being used to carry them out, protect the offices’ staff and resources, conduct immediate oversight of Secretary McMahon’s actions, and fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Every student with disabilities *and* students facing discrimination deserve federal protections, accountable enforcement, and a Department of Education equipped to defend their rights!