The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and the undersigned State Councils on Developmental Disabilities are deeply concerned about the recent layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These cuts affect key offices that make sure people with disabilities get the education, mental health support, and community services they are entitled to under the law.
Recent large-scale layoffs in the U.S. Department of Education have deeply weakened the federal foundation that protects and supports students with disabilities. Key offices, including the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), have lost much of their experienced staff, severely limiting their ability to carry out their responsibilities.
These offices are the backbone of national efforts to implement and enforce IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Without them, oversight, accountability, and technical guidance to states collapse. These are real consequences for students and families in every community.
Without the staff to provide these supports, people with disabilities will face greater barriers to receiving the services and accommodations they are entitled to by law. Schools and state agencies will be left without the expertise and direction they rely on to do their jobs well. Most critically, the cuts will directly affect state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) offices, which depend on RSA for funding, training, and policy guidance.
These programs help youth with disabilities transition from school to work providing them learning the skills, gaining experience, and building the confidence that make long-term employment possible.
When those supports falter, students lose opportunities to prepare for adult life, and many may never fully enter the workforce.Adults with disabilities who turn to VR programs for job training and support will also face longer waits, fewer services, and less effective help finding and keeping employment. The weakening of this system harms communities, businesses, and the broader economy by sidelining capable people who want to contribute and succeed.
In addition, recent reports of workforce reductions of up to 50% at SAMHSA—due to firings, reorganizations, and budget cuts—are creating anxiety among service providers and people who depend on mental health and behavioral health programs.
These changes have reportedly led to the elimination of some regional offices and the loss of key leaders, raising serious concerns about SAMHSA’s ability to oversee grants, support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and partner with states and communities. Cuts also threaten the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program, which helps protect the rights and safety of people with mental health disabilities. The laws that established PAIMI must be enforced to ensure people with mental health needs continue to have access to protection, advocacy, and oversight when their rights are violated.
Without strong federal leadership and a stable workforce in these agencies, the impact will be deeply harmful to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will weaken essential systems that ensure people with disabilities can learn in their communities, adults with disabilities can find and keep jobs, and all people with disabilities can access mental health supports and live healthy, self-directed lives.
Statewide Councils on Developmental Disabilities:
- Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
- California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council
- Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
- DC Developmental Disabilities Council
- Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council
- Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma
- Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education (Alaska)
- Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
- Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council
- Kentucky’s Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
- Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
- Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
- Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
- Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
- Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council
- Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Nevada Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
- New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities
- New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
- North Dakota State Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
- Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council
- South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
- Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
- West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
- Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
