Recent cuts at the U.S. Department of Education have resulted in mass layoffs of about half the workforce, leading to widespread concerns among educators and families. Experts warn that these reductions could limit options for families of children with disabilities and increase the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse in schools. The cuts are viewed as a move to undermine public education, and former officials express fears over the erosion of civil rights protections within the agency. Multiple states, including California and Maine, have taken legal action to block these layoffs, arguing they could have dire consequences for education funding and resources. As students and educators brace for the fallout, rallies against these firings and plans to dismantle the department are gaining momentum across the country.