Disability Groups Fear RFK Jr.’s New Special Education Role

Key Points:

• The Trump administration appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee special education programs, prompting criticism from disability advocates who argue his views on autism make him unsuitable for the role.
• Kennedy previously stated that children with autism would never hold jobs or engage in typical social activities, comments he later softened but used to justify moving special education under the health department.
• Advocates warn this shift risks treating disabled students as medical cases rather than individuals with educational needs, potentially harming their academic success and future opportunities.
• The reassignment is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to dismantle the Education Department by reallocating its programs across multiple federal agencies, with the ultimate goal of closing the department pending Congressional approval.
• Critics fear these changes could undermine support for students with disabilities and reduce the focus on their educational development.