The Administration is once again asking Congress to eliminate key special education and disability programs as part of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget request. After hearing from thousands of individuals with disabilities, family members, and professionals during the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, Congress soundly rejected these proposals on a bipartisan basis. The National Down Syndrome Congress calls on Congress to continue to protect funding for critically important programs that support and protect people with disabilities – from young children through adults.
The President’s budget would eliminate programs authorized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) including preschool grants, state personnel development, technical assistance, personnel preparation, and parent information centers and instead send the money directly to the states with no accountability. The budget also calls for eliminating programs in the Department of Health and Human Services including the Administration for Community Living, Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance, University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities.
NDSC Policy & Advocacy Co-Director, Stephanie Smith Lee, said, “We very much appreciate the bipartisan Congressional support for children and adults with disabilities in the last appropriations process and expect that Congress will continue this support. It is time for the Administration to refocus on improving opportunities and outcomes for individuals with disabilities instead of eliminating funding that promotes education, employment and community living.”
The President’s budget request is just the first step in the appropriations process. NDSC will continue meeting with Members of Congress and providing advocacy tools for advocates to speak up during this process. NDSC urges Congress to uphold its bipartisan commitment to individuals with disabilities by rejecting these harmful cuts and preserving essential federal programs that ensure opportunity, independence, and inclusion across the lifespan.
