State Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s Statement on the U.S. Department of Education’s Layoffs of Staff that Support Vulnerable Students and Families

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education announced another massive reduction-in-force within the offices that support some of the nation’s most vulnerable students. Below is State Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s statement. 

OLYMPIA—October 13, 2025—On October 10, the Trump Administration continued its efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education by laying off 466 employees, on top of the 1,300 employees the administration laid off in March. 

The Department was created by Congress in 1979 and is responsible for distributing federal education funding, collecting and reporting education data, providing technical assistance and guidance, enforcing federal laws prohibiting discrimination in education, and ensuring equal access to education for every learner.

Various outlets have reported that the administration made cuts to staff within each program in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), which oversees various educational programs including services for students who are Native, migratory, and experiencing homelessness.

Reports also say that the layoffs eliminated nearly all of the staff positions within the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which oversees special education services for students with disabilities.

Each year, the federal government provides over $15 billion in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding nationwide to support more than 7.5 million children with disabilities. In Washington state, more than 155,000 students are served under IDEA, and school districts rely on $275 million in federal IDEA funding annually to uphold student rights and deliver specially designed instruction.

Congress has long recognized that the federal government has a role in ensuring students have access to the supports and resources they are legally obligated to. However, without staff available to perform audits, provide technical assistance, and complete investigations, these layoffs remove several of the safeguards that the federal government has put in place, and the extent of the impacts to services for students and families is not yet known. 

My office has not received any indication that federal funds are at risk for local school districts at this time. The federal education grant system is active, and entities are still able to draw funds. 

In Washington state, the Legislature has adopted civil rights protections for students above and beyond the federal minimum protections, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will continue to enforce those laws. The Legislature has also made significant bipartisan investments in special education in recent years.

Washington has long served as a reliable steward of IDEA and is a leader in inclusive, equitable education. We will not waver in our commitment to students with disabilities, or those who are Native, migratory, or experiencing homelessness.  

I urge Congress to step in and restore the federal government’s capability to administer these important programs so all states and local systems can fulfill their obligations and protect the rights of students and families.