Autism advocacy meets federal cuts as Trump administration reshapes special-education oversight

In Winter Haven, Florida, Josette Smith’s son Ethan, diagnosed with autism and ADHD, was repeatedly taken out of instruction and even had police called on him, despite a school-determined need for a trained paraprofessional. Smith first complained to local officials and later filed a federal civil-rights complaint alleging discrimination tied to his disability and race. The Trump administration’s 2025 executive order reduced the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, closed regional offices, and transferred special-education oversight to the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services.

Concurrently, the administration eliminated roughly $900 million in research funding, halted equity investigations, and curtailed data collection on racial disparities in schools. Researchers say these moves exacerbate existing gaps in autism diagnosis for children of color, girls, and low-income students. Disability advocates argue the restructuring creates confusion and weakens the safety net for families seeking to enforce students’ rights.