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Rep. John W. Mannion, D-Geddes, represents the 22nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In every administration, no matter which party is in power, there are certain promises that should always be kept. Whatever you like or dislike about our current government, I know we can find consensus around the promises we make to educate children with disabilities. That’s why I find the recent cruel, unnecessary and likely illegal firings of career experts at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) so troubling. Reports suggest that no more than a few staff now remain at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) — the two agencies that make up OSERS. As parents of children with disabilities know, these offices are essential to our nation’s schools. OSEP administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), allocating funds and ensuring that states and school districts uphold the law’s protections for students with disabilities and their families. The RSA complements this work by helping people with disabilities achieve meaningful employment and live independently within their communities. At a time when families need stability and schools need support, removing the people who safeguard students’ rights under IDEA betrays one of our nation’s most fundamental commitments. These are not political appointees — they are career professionals. IDEA guarantees that every child has the right to a free and appropriate public education. That’s not a partisan aspiration — it’s the law of the land, passed by Congress and reaffirmed by generations of educators, parents and advocates who understand that our strength as a nation is measured by how we treat those who need the most support. I fear we are sending a dangerous signal that the rights and dignity of students with disabilities can be sacrificed to ideology, or worse, indifference. As a teacher for almost 30 years, I saw firsthand how IDEA changes lives. It ensures that students with disabilities aren’t left behind — that they get the support, services and accommodations they need to reach their full potential. Every success story I witnessed in my classroom, every student who found their voice or their confidence, was proof that IDEA works. As a legislator, I’ve been committed to ensuring that promise holds true beyond the classroom. When I served in the New York state Senate, I was proud to be the founding chairman of the Senate Disabilities Committee. Nearly every piece of legislation or reform we advanced in Albany was bipartisan — in fact, nearly all were unanimous. We proved that disability rights are not a Democrat or Republican issue — they are a human one. I’ve carried that spirit of unity with me to Washington. My first bill in Congress, the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act, ensures that IDEA and related programs remain under the authority and expertise of the U.S. Department of Education — just as Congress intended when the law was written. It’s a safeguard against exactly the kind of political meddling we’re seeing today. Because when bureaucratic reshuffling or partisan purges start interfering with who enforces the law, it’s students and families who pay the price. The disabilities community lives in every community — across every income, religion, race and political party. These are our neighbors, our family members and our students. If there is one thing that should unite us in these divisive times, it is doing what’s right for these children and families — not because it’s politically convenient, but because it’s decent and just. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was born from decades of advocacy and courage. Before its passage, millions of children with disabilities were denied access to public education entirely. Parents were told their children didn’t belong in school. IDEA changed that forever — mandating not only access, but inclusion, individualized education plans, and accountability for every school district in America. The professionals at OSEP are the guardians of that promise. Their expertise ensures that schools comply with the law, that states receive proper guidance, and that parents know their children’s rights are protected. Terminating them for political reasons undermines the very foundation of IDEA and endangers the progress we’ve made. We cannot allow that to happen. While a judge’s recent temporary pause on these layoffs is a welcome first step, lasting protections require congressional action — starting with passage of the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act. We cannot go back to a time when students with disabilities are invisible or ignored. Every parent of a child with disabilities knows how hard they fight — for resources, for fairness, for dignity. They deserve a representative that fights just as hard alongside them. While others in Washington play politics with shutdowns and soundbites, I’ll keep working with everyone to defend IDEA, to protect the professionals who enforce it, and to make sure every student has the chance to thrive.
