Senate panel considers vote to shield special education from RFK Jr.'s agency [View all]

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Source: USA Today

Updated June 20, 2026, 4:13 p.m. ET


WASHINGTON – A Senate committee is considering a vote in July to prevent the Trump administration from transferring core functions of federal special education programs to the Health and Human Services Department, which is overseen by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The move – one of the most dramatic changes in President Donald Trump's yearlong crusade to dismantle the Education Department – immediately set off alarm among disability rights groups, who fear it could eventually disrupt services for students with disabilities. Critics pointed to RFK Jr.'s pattern of controversial past statements about autism in particular (he said during a press conference last year that the condition "destroys families&quot .

Though federal officials have not yet provided a clear timeline for the bold shift – even in internal communications to employees – they've promised that students' rights will continue to be protected. A summary of the new interagency partnership says it "will not impact students, parents or families."

In a statement, Kennedy said the change will "deliver more effective support for individuals with disabilities and their families.". "Together, we will improve education and employment outcomes, uphold the rights of individuals with disabilities, and help every child reach their full potential," he said. One key Republican lawmaker, however, doesn't share that view. And that strategically placed opposition could spell trouble on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks for both Kennedy and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/20/special-ed-rfk-jr-education-department-hhs-senate/90629312007/