US Education Department layoffs raise concerns over increased class sizes and fewer resources for special needs students. (AP Photo)

The recent layoffs at the US Department of Education have raised alarms across the education sector, with many educators fearing that the cuts will worsen existing challenges in schools. Nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce was reduced in a major restructuring effort announced on March 11, 2025. While the Department argues that these reforms will lead to a more efficient distribution of funds, educators worry about the long-term consequences for students, particularly those who are marginalized.
Teachers are especially concerned about the loss of federal funding for critical programs. As the cuts take effect, experts predict significant impacts on teacher training, student resources, and support for special needs and multilingual students.
Teacher shortages and increasing class sizes
The layoffs are expected to exacerbate the teacher shortage already felt in many parts of the country. Tara Kini, chief of policy and programs at the Learning Policy Institute, told ABC News that these cuts will have “huge impacts” on teachers. The loss of federal money previously allocated for teacher training programs is particularly devastating, especially for teachers serving special needs and marginalized students. “We will lose counselors, social workers, behavior specialists—people who ensure safety and stability for students who need it most,” said Robert Castleberry, a fifth-grade teacher in Kansas and the American Federation of Teachers’ Kansas secretary.
Experts also worry that the cuts will lead to larger class sizes and fewer individualized resources for students. “We may have to combine classes or cut electives altogether because we don’t have enough teachers,” Kini explained. “Teachers may also be forced to use long-term substitutes, who are often not trained to meet students’ needs.” The lack of specialized staff could be particularly damaging to students with individualized education plans (IEPs), who may require additional attention and tailored support.
Impact on students with disabilities and multilingual learners
The cuts also threaten to undermine federal support for students with disabilities and multilingual learners. Programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title 1 funding, which provide essential resources for low-income and special education students, are now at risk. “The loss of funding for these programs means fewer teachers trained in high-need areas and fewer resources for our most vulnerable students,” Kini said, as quoted by ABC News.
Teachers like Jennifer Graves, a special education teacher in New Haven, Connecticut, expressed concerns about the increasing pressure on public schools to support these students without adequate funding. “We are already working in a deficit model, and now, with these cuts, we will be even more stretched,” Graves told ABC News.
In the wake of these changes, educators fear that the future of education may be uncertain. “I think it would be a reasonable conclusion for a young person today to look at what’s happening and say, ‘This doesn’t seem like a stable career choice for me right now,'” Kini noted, reflecting the broader concerns about the profession’s future.
Despite the Department’s reassurances, educators and advocates are worried that these changes will make it even harder for schools to provide the resources necessary for students to succeed.