The Trump administration has terminated several federal grants supporting deafblind students, drawing sharp criticism from families and educators who say the cuts will disrupt vital services, K-12 Dive reports.
The US Department of Education issued “notices of noncontinuation” to four IDEA Part D projects in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and a consortium of New England states, ending about $1 million in funding that serves more than 1,300 children.
The department said the projects conflicted with agency “policy and priorities,” citing language in grant applications referencing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A spokesperson said fewer than 35 grants were ended and that the funds are being redirected to programs “that better serve special needs students.” The move is part of the administration’s broader rollback of DEI programs across federal agencies.
State and local leaders pushed back. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly said losing the five-year grant, valued at more than $550,000, would directly impact services for vulnerable students and undermine efforts to recruit special educators. Oregon Project Director Lisa McConachie called the noncontinuation “nonsensical” and is appealing to reinstate funding, warning the cuts will cause “disruptive” learning losses.
Families say the grants provide critical training, resources, and community support. Parents described how projects helped them learn to communicate with their children, connected them with other families, and trained specialized teachers. Without the grants, planned activities such as family weekends and teacher training have already been canceled.
Advocates stress that deafblindness, though rare, requires expertise beyond what most schools can provide. They warn that sudden loss of services will be especially harmful during crucial developmental stages. “This is a lifeline for many families,” said Washington parent Lanya Elsa. “What if new families don’t have the same opportunities ours had?”
