Despite repeated assurances from the Trump administration regarding the preservation of special education funding, advocacy groups are sounding alarms nationwide. Concerns are mounting that hundreds of millions of dollars in in-progress federal grants aimed at strengthening services for children with disabilities could be cut in the coming weeks, according to US media sources.The potential reductions center on Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which funds competitive grants supporting academic research, parent resources, technology development, and the professional training of special educators. Unlike the formula-driven Part B funds, which directly support classroom services, Part D underwrites the infrastructure that enables high-quality special education nationwide.
Advocacy groups raise red flags
Last week, the Council for Exceptional Children and the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities warned their members that the US Department of Education may soon terminate “hundreds” of Part D grants. Letters from these organizations, reviewed by Education Week, indicate that the department may have used AI scans to flag grant applications containing references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), an area targeted by the Trump administration in K-12 and higher education programs.Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Department of Education, confirmed that “non-competitive continuation award reviews for IDEA-D programmes are ongoing”, but declined to specify which grants are at risk, whether AI is being used in the review, or when a final decision would be communicated, as reported by Education Week.
Potential consequences: Programs and services in limbo
The stakes are high. Cuts to IDEA Part D funding could affect:
- State education agencies and technical assistance centers, which help districts navigate complex special education requirements.
- Academic research, including hundreds of doctoral students whose projects rely on these grants.
- Teacher training initiatives, potentially deepening existing shortages of qualified special educators.
- Parent and child support programs, threatening critical services for families nationwide.
Advocacy and congressional response
Many organizations are actively lobbying Congress to prevent disruptions. Over 100 state-level groups supporting parents of children with disabilities have drafted a letter urging lawmakers to maintain current funding levels, emphasizing that program eliminations would undermine congressional intent and jeopardize essential services.Historically, Part D grants have included requirements for equity-focused initiatives, aligning with prior federal mandates. A 2024 special education personnel development grant, for instance, explicitly sought proposals supporting educational equity for children with disabilities.Glenna Gallo, former assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services (2023–2025), underscored the potential consequences:“We have had decades of educator shortages, and if they do away with this funding, that is going to take us back to not having people trained to provide support to children with disabilities” as reported by Education Week.
Signs of funding disruption
Evidence suggests that grant recipients are already feeling the effects:
- Organizations in the mid-cycle of five-year IDEA Part D grants have not received expected funding for the new fiscal year, starting Oct. 1.
- Some recipients, including national technical assistance centers and Community Parent Resource Centers, received notice of a one-month extension of their grant year, but without additional funding or assurance of future support.
- If congressional appropriations are not fully distributed by Sept. 30, the funds could expire and return to the Treasury, creating additional operational uncertainty.
Trump administration signals changes
While Part B (over $15 billion annually) and Part C funding streams remain unaffected, the administration has flagged a potential shift of Part D funds into Part B, arguing that this would “return education to the states”. Critics contend that without a dedicated Part D stream, states may struggle to maintain research, training, and parent-support programs.Previous federal budgets and bipartisan congressional actions show consistent support for IDEA, with recent votes advancing a 2026 federal budget that preserves funding for all special education programs and rejects Trump’s proposed cuts and consolidations.
An uncertain path ahead
As the Education Department reviews Part D grants, recipients and advocacy groups face a tense waiting period. The outcome could reshape the landscape of special education services, with potential disruptions to research, teacher training, and parental support initiatives. In a field already grappling with shortages and growing student needs, the stakes could not be higher.
