Overview

• The administration began issuing reduction‑in‑force notices on Oct. 10 to about 4,200 federal workers, including 466 at the Education Department and personnel in the Office of Special Education Programs.
• U.S. District Judge Susan Illston temporarily paused the latest round of layoffs that span more than two dozen agencies, with a hearing set for Oct. 28 on whether to extend the halt.
• President Trump framed the cuts as closing "Democrat programs," while disability advocates warn that federal enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act could be undermined.
• Massachusetts leaders and school officials say reduced federal capacity threatens services and accountability, citing recent state noncompliance findings and districts that depend on IDEA-funded staffing.
• A proposed shift of special education oversight to Health and Human Services has not occurred and would require Congress, as most relevant staff were instead slated for layoff and 7.3 million children rely on services nationwide.