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Trump administration restructures federal oversight of special education and civil rights

Reorganization and funding cuts across federal health and education agencies draw concern from disability advocates, while officials contend the changes aim to improve support systems.

Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 09:33 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The Trump administration closed seven regional Office for Civil Rights branches, transferring special education oversight to HHS and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department.
  • Federal research funding was reduced by roughly $900 million at the Institute of Education Sciences, alongside the halting of data collection on racial disparities in school discipline.
  • Advocates and researchers express concern that the structural changes weaken civil rights protections for autistic students and students of color.
  • A backlog of nearly 12,000 federal civil rights complaints remains largely frozen as families await resolutions.

Key facts

  • A March 2025 executive order initiated the dismantling of the Department of Education and closed seven of the 12 regional offices of its Office for Civil Rights.[CBS News]
  • In June, special education oversight was shifted to the Department of Health and Human Services, while civil rights enforcement was transferred to the Department of Justice.[CBS News]
  • An April Senate committee report detailed that civil rights complaint resolutions hit a 12-year low, creating a backlog of nearly 12,000 cases.[CBS News]
  • The administration canceled approximately $900 million in funding for the Institute of Education Sciences and proposed ending data collection regarding racial disparities in school discipline.[CBS News]
  • A SUNY-Albany study covering 2003 to 2022 determined that students of color, girls, low-income students, and multilingual learners were less likely to be identified with autism in schools than their peers.[CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • The operational outcome of splitting disability oversight and civil rights enforcement between HHS and the Department of Justice remains unclear, particularly for cases involving overlapping discrimination claims.[CBS News]

Sources