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Disability Groups Fear RFK Jr.'s New Special Education Role
Disability Groups Fear RFK Jr.’s New Special Education Role
Alienated by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims about autism, advocates for disabled students are sounding the alarm about the Trump administration's shifting special education programs to his department.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports moving special education funds into his department. Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
By Michael C. Bender and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Michael C. Bender and Sheryl Gay Stolberg reported from Washington
June 20, 2026
Updated 8:28 a.m. ET
The Trump administration’s decision this week to put Heath Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in charge of special education programs has sparked a sharp backlash from advocates for students with disabilities, who say the move will hurt children and that his views on autism make him unfit for the job. ... Mr. Kennedy said earlier this year that children with autism would never hold a job, play baseball or go on a date. He quickly walked back the remarks, saying he was only speaking about the most severe cases — only to insist the next day that special education should be moved into his department. “They’re health-related programs rather than particularly educated programs,” Mr. Kennedy said.
Advocates for students with disabilities said that Mr. Kennedy’s comments show how the change puts disabled students at risk of being viewed as medical conditions to be treated instead of as boys and girls to be educated. ... “It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of who kids with disabilities are, how they can be successful in school and how their futures can be very bright,” said Katy Neas, chief executive officer of The Arc, a national support group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The move is part of an extraordinary effort from the Trump administration to dismantle the Education Department, which supporters have said would improve government efficiency, lead to better results for students and satisfy a decades-long promise from Republicans to shutter the agency. ... Closing the department entirely requires approval from Congress, which has focused on other matters this term. In the meantime, the Trump administration has transferred tens of billions in Education Department programs to the six different federal executive agencies, which includes health and human services.
Courtney Parella Spencer, the health department’s top spokeswoman, said Mr. Kennedy “strongly agrees” with the idea that “a child’s disability isn’t viewed as a medical condition that needs to be treated.” She said health department experts had “significant accumulated knowledge serving individuals with disabilities,” and would pool their expertise across programs to ensure that students’ needs are met. ... “This partnership is about making federal support systems work better for children and families,” Ms. Spencer said, “while fully preserving the legal protections and educational rights guaranteed under federal law.” ... Congress could block the changes, which some members oppose, but such a move does not appear to have broad support.
Advocates for disabled students battled for decades to convince local schools, state leaders and federal lawmakers to educate children with a range of disabilities, including physical limitations like deafness and blindness and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, alongside other students. That effort culminated in 1998 with changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that guaranteed disabled students the opportunity for a free, appropriate public education.
{snip}
Michael C. Bender is a Times correspondent in Washington.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg is a correspondent based in Washington for The Times, covering Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Trump’s health agenda.
Alienated by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims about autism, advocates for disabled students are sounding the alarm about the Trump administration's shifting special education programs to his department.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports moving special education funds into his department. Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
By Michael C. Bender and Sheryl Gay Stolberg
Michael C. Bender and Sheryl Gay Stolberg reported from Washington
June 20, 2026
Updated 8:28 a.m. ET
The Trump administration’s decision this week to put Heath Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in charge of special education programs has sparked a sharp backlash from advocates for students with disabilities, who say the move will hurt children and that his views on autism make him unfit for the job. ... Mr. Kennedy said earlier this year that children with autism would never hold a job, play baseball or go on a date. He quickly walked back the remarks, saying he was only speaking about the most severe cases — only to insist the next day that special education should be moved into his department. “They’re health-related programs rather than particularly educated programs,” Mr. Kennedy said.
Advocates for students with disabilities said that Mr. Kennedy’s comments show how the change puts disabled students at risk of being viewed as medical conditions to be treated instead of as boys and girls to be educated. ... “It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of who kids with disabilities are, how they can be successful in school and how their futures can be very bright,” said Katy Neas, chief executive officer of The Arc, a national support group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The move is part of an extraordinary effort from the Trump administration to dismantle the Education Department, which supporters have said would improve government efficiency, lead to better results for students and satisfy a decades-long promise from Republicans to shutter the agency. ... Closing the department entirely requires approval from Congress, which has focused on other matters this term. In the meantime, the Trump administration has transferred tens of billions in Education Department programs to the six different federal executive agencies, which includes health and human services.
Courtney Parella Spencer, the health department’s top spokeswoman, said Mr. Kennedy “strongly agrees” with the idea that “a child’s disability isn’t viewed as a medical condition that needs to be treated.” She said health department experts had “significant accumulated knowledge serving individuals with disabilities,” and would pool their expertise across programs to ensure that students’ needs are met. ... “This partnership is about making federal support systems work better for children and families,” Ms. Spencer said, “while fully preserving the legal protections and educational rights guaranteed under federal law.” ... Congress could block the changes, which some members oppose, but such a move does not appear to have broad support.
Advocates for disabled students battled for decades to convince local schools, state leaders and federal lawmakers to educate children with a range of disabilities, including physical limitations like deafness and blindness and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, alongside other students. That effort culminated in 1998 with changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that guaranteed disabled students the opportunity for a free, appropriate public education.
{snip}
Michael C. Bender is a Times correspondent in Washington.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg is a correspondent based in Washington for The Times, covering Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Trump’s health agenda.