Congressman John Mannion (NY-22) has introduced the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act, a bill aimed at ensuring that special education programs remain under the U.S. Department of Education as originally intended by Congress. The legislation is a response to efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle the department and transfer Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Mannion argues that moving special education programs to agencies lacking expertise in educational policy would undermine oversight and disrupt essential services for students with disabilities.
“The IDEA has been the foundation of special education in the United States for 50 years, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the free, appropriate public education they are entitled to under federal law,” Mannion said. “Attempts to strip special education programs from the Department of Education and shift them to agencies without the expertise or legal mandate to oversee their implementation are not only reckless but also unlawful.”
The bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Jahana Hayes (CT-5) and Lucy McBath (GA-6), prohibits the use of federal funds to eliminate, consolidate, or restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers IDEA programs. The legislation specifically protects the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which has overseen compliance, research, and service implementation for decades.
Mannion’s background in special education
Mannion, a former New York State Senator, was the founding chairman of the Senate Disabilities Committee. Before entering politics, he worked for nearly 30 years as a public-school science teacher, including time in a 15:1 special education classroom. He says his experience gives him firsthand knowledge of the challenges students with disabilities and their families face.
This bill marks Mannion’s first legislative effort in Congress, and he is calling on lawmakers to swiftly pass the measure to protect the integrity of special education programs.
