The Detroit News

When a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to lay off hundreds of U.S. Department of Education employees late last week, many celebrated. But for those of us who work directly with Michigan families of students with disabilities, it felt less like a victory and more like a momentary pause in a deepening crisis. Even if the shutdown-era layoffs are halted, the damage has already begun. The Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), which provide lifelines for students and families seeking accountability, have been hollowed out. Complaints sit unanswered, investigations are stalled, and parents have nowhere to turn when their children are denied services required by federal law.