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Senate Committee Advances Bill to Protect Special Education Office from Trump Administration Reorganization

The Senate's education committee approved a bill in a 13-9 vote to retain key offices within the Department of Education, primarily aimed at blocking the transfer of special education responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services. The legislation, co-sponsored by Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, was led by Sen. Tim Kaine. The measure seeks to shield landmark programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act from the administration's plan to dismantle the department. While the administration announced the move to HHS as a way to streamline operations, many advocates and some Republicans, including Sen. Bill Cassidy, expressed concern that students with disabilities might be treated as patients to diagnose rather than learners to educate. Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the reorganization, arguing that it cuts through red tape rather than adding it. To ensure accountability, the committee also approved an amendment requiring Secretary McMahon to provide cost estimates for each interagency agreement signed. This move signals significant bipartisan opposition to the administration's rapid restructuring of the agency.

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