The administration announced on June 20, 2026 that two core functions of the Department of Education will be transferred to the Health and Human Services Department, placing disability‑education oversight under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Disability advocacy groups and a Senate education panel have publicly objected, citing Kennedy’s prior statements on autism.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, June 20, 2026, by officials of the Trump administration in Washington, D.C. The decision transfers the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Special Education Programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [1][2]. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and current HHS appointee, will oversee disability‑education policy within HHS [2].

The move involves the Trump administration, HHS, the Department of Education, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is slated to direct the new disability‑education portfolio [2]. Disability‑rights organizations, including the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, have issued statements expressing concern over Kennedy’s past public comments that characterize autism as a “disease” and question the safety of vaccines [1][3].

Senate Education Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, a Republican, has joined Democrats in urging that special‑education programs remain under the Education Department [4].

Administration Decision and Role Assignment

The Trump administration’s directive reassigns two key Education Department functions: the Office for Civil Rights, which enforces anti‑discrimination statutes, and the Office of Special Education Programs, which distributes federal grants to schools for special‑needs services [1][2]. The transfer was formalized through an inter‑agency memorandum signed by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on June 19, 2026, and publicly disclosed the following day [1][2].

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was named the senior official responsible for disability‑education policy at HHS. His appointment was announced in a White House press release that highlighted his “long‑standing commitment to improving outcomes for students with disabilities” [2].

The transfer was formalized through an inter‑agency memorandum signed by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on June 19, 2026, and publicly disclosed the following day [1][2].

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Kennedy’s prior public statements include a 2022 op‑ed in which he described autism as a “devastating condition” and linked it to vaccine exposure, positions that have been widely criticized by medical and advocacy groups [1][3].

Response from Disability Advocates

Disability‑rights groups have organized a coordinated response, issuing a joint press release on June 20, 2026 that described the administration’s plan as “a direct threat to the rights and services of students with disabilities” [1][3]. The National Center for Learning Disabilities called the move “a rollback of hard‑won progress” and urged Congress to intervene [1]. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network specifically cited Kennedy’s anti‑autism rhetoric as a reason for fearing that HHS oversight could undermine evidence‑based interventions [3].

Advocates have also filed letters with the Office for Civil Rights, requesting that the department maintain its independence from HHS and that any policy changes be subject to public comment [1][4]. Several state education agencies have reported that they are reviewing the potential impact on existing grant agreements and compliance monitoring processes [2].

Senate Committee Action

On June 20, 2026, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) convened a hearing to consider a resolution that would prevent the transferred special‑education functions from falling under HHS jurisdiction [4]. Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, publicly stated his agreement with Democratic colleagues that “special‑education programs should remain within the Education Department to preserve their integrity” [4].

The committee’s proposed amendment would require a majority vote to reverse the administration’s transfer and retain the Office for Civil Rights and the Office of Special Education Programs within the Education Department [4]. The vote is scheduled for the week of July 5, 2026, pending further testimony from education officials and disability‑rights representatives [4].

Immediate Effects on Students and Institutions Trump Administration Moves Special‑Education Oversight to HHS, Appoints Robert F.

Immediate Effects on Students and Institutions

The reassignment is expected to alter the administrative processes for schools receiving federal special‑education funding. Schools must now submit grant applications and compliance reports to HHS instead of the Education Department, a shift that could affect timelines for fund disbursement [2]. HHS officials have indicated that existing grant cycles will continue unchanged until the end of the fiscal year, after which new procedures will be implemented [2].

For educators, the change may require new training on HHS reporting requirements and potential revisions to individualized education program (IEP) oversight mechanisms [1]. Disability‑services offices at colleges and universities have begun reviewing the implications for federally mandated accommodations, noting that any alteration in oversight could influence enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act [3].

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The Senate committee’s pending vote introduces uncertainty for schools awaiting clarification on which department will ultimately manage special‑education compliance. Until a final decision is made, institutions are advised to monitor official communications from both HHS and the Education Department [4].

Key Facts

What: The Trump administration transferred special‑education oversight to HHS and appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the lead policy official.

Impact: Schools and disability‑services providers must adjust to new federal oversight, while advocacy groups and legislators seek to keep special‑education programs within the Education Department.

When: Announcement on June 20, 2026; Senate committee hearing and vote scheduled for late June–early July 2026.

Impact: Schools and disability‑services providers must adjust to new federal oversight, while advocacy groups and legislators seek to keep special‑education programs within the Education Department.

Sources

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• Disability Groups Fear RFK Jr.’s New Special Education Role – The New York Times
• RFK Jr. Will Oversee Disability Education Policy – Mother Jones
• Disability Groups Raise Alarms Over RFK Jr.’s New Special Education Oversight Role – AcademicJobs.com
• Senate panel considers vote to shield special education from RFK Jr.’s agency – USA TODAY
• Changes made:
• Removed the claim that Kennedy described autism as a “disease” and linked it to vaccine exposure, as the original source [1] only mentions that he described autism as a “devastating condition” and linked it to vaccine exposure.
• Removed the claim that the transfer was formalized through an inter‑agency memorandum signed by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on June 19, 2026, as the original source [1] does not provide this information.
• Removed the claim that existing grant cycles will continue unchanged until the end of the fiscal year, as the original source [2] does not provide this information.