8.5M students to lose special education resources following Ed Dept layoffs

An office dedicated to special education within the U.S. Department of Education was heavily impacted during mass layoffs issued as the federal government remains shut down for the third week, CNN reported. The office served millions of people who have disabilities nationwide.

The Education Department’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is mostly empty, with the exception of some top officials, after the White House sent layoff notices. According to court records, Stephen Billy, senior advisor for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said that an estimated 466 employees in the Education Department were given layoff notices on Oct. 10.