ICYMI: NCJW Joins 800+ National and State Groups to Raise Alarm After Department of Education Layoffs, Cuts to Special Ed, Accessibility Services, and Civil Rights Protections for Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, October 23, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: press@ncjw.org
WASHINGTON, DC — As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) — the nation’s leading Jewish feminist civil rights organization, representing 250,000 changemakers across the United States and Israel — is continuing to raise the alarm on the damage this shutdown is doing to everyday, working Americans and their families. In addition to the paychecks many parents are missing, for millions of students across the country, this damage will be even more acutely felt through the effective shuttering of the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, Rehabilitation Services Administration, the Office for Civil Rights, and Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Last week, NCJW joined more than 800 national and state groups in a collaborative effort to oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to illegally fire those at the Department providing services for students with disabilities and protecting the rights of all students. In that call to action, the groups called on the administration and Congress “to reverse course immediately and restore staffing and transparency at the US Department of Education.”
“The longer this shutdown goes on, the more it harms those most in need of critical government services. Assistance for students with disabilities, as well as key civil rights protections for all students, should not be on the chopping block while Congress debates how to reopen our government,” said Talya Steinberg, associate director of government relations and advocacy at NCJW. “As Jewish advocates, we know that our vision of kavod habriyot — dignity for all — relies upon every person, every child, being able to access the full benefits of our education system. We urge President Trump and Secretary McMahon to reverse course, reinstate the staffing for these legally mandated programs, and ensure that every student in every ZIP code can access the required services and protections they deserve.”
NCJW joined a second call to halt the reductions at the Department and protect programs for vulnerable students on October 21st, joining national and state groups in further condemning these devastating cuts.
Thanks to the efforts of the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, a federal judge recently issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration, temporarily halting these reductions and any further mass terminations across other federal agencies, safeguarding critical programs for millions of Americans.
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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 133-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 250,000 grassroots advocates and 48 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to effect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.