Congress Begins to Ask Questions, Express Outrage

House members Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon expressing concern over the impact the RIF will have on students with disabilities. 

The co-chairs requested a response within 30 days to critical questions, including the reasoning behind the RIF, its assessed impact on students with disabilities, and how the agency plans to continue meeting its legal obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Finally, they question how transparency and accountability will be maintained if there are too few staff to oversee compliance and ensure the law’s implementation. 

House and Senate Democrats have also sent letters demanding answers and a reversal of the recent RIFs. A letter signed by 121 House Democrats asserts, “These reckless terminations are just another in a line of actions by your administration that threaten the rights that individuals with disabilities have fought long and hard for.” 31 Senate Democrats expressed similar outrage, writing, "The Department’s actions to hollow out key offices responsible for supporting students with disabilities, rural students, students experiencing homelessness, school districts that serve low-income students or military families doesn’t just hurt 'Democrats,' it hurts students and families in every part of the country.”