Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) have sent a bipartisan letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education, urging them to permanently retain staff in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) who administer programs for students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care.
The lawmakers’ action follows reduction-in-force notices issued during a recent government shutdown that reportedly led to the dismissal of almost all OESE workers, including those managing the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. Although these layoffs were later reversed, concerns remain that the Department may be seeking further cuts to EHCY staffing. The representatives emphasized that temporary reinstatement is insufficient, calling on the Department to restore and maintain specialized personnel so states and districts can fulfill their legal obligations to vulnerable students.
“About 1.4 million students in the U.S. experience homelessness each school year and about 270,000 school-aged children and youth are in foster care. Beyond the challenges of meeting their basic needs, these students face unique barriers to education including difficulty enrolling in school without a fixed address or necessary documentation, lack of transportation, frequently changing schools, and chronic absenteeism,” wrote Bacon, Lee, and Panetta. “Federal programs administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, like the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, are one of few lifelines for children experiencing homelessness.”
The letter also highlighted that without OESE’s specialized staff—including those supporting EHCY—states cannot fully implement federal protections under McKinney-Vento law or use Title I funds set aside for homeless students effectively. Lawmakers pointed out bipartisan support for EHCY funding in Congress, with both chambers proposing $129 million for fiscal year 2026; they argued that permanent staffing is essential to uphold this commitment.
“Without these workers, the Department of Education will be unable to fulfill its legal responsibilities under Section 724 of the McKinney-Vento Act, which protects access to education for students experiencing homelessness. Without these workers, states and districts will be unequipped to implement EHCY funding and other critical support that students are entitled to,” continued Bacon, Lee, and Panetta. “As a result, over one million children and youth may lose access to the educational services they rely on as an essential source of stability.”
The letter was signed by several other members of Congress from both parties. It received endorsements from SchoolHouse Connection and Homeless Children’s Education Fund.
Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection said: “Ensuring that children who are homeless or who enter foster care can stay in school is not a partisan issue. Restoring the small, specialized team at the U.S. Department of Education that helps states and school districts carry out these protections is a practical, bipartisan step that honors the law Congress passed. We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Lee, Panetta, and Bacon in calling for the permanent reinstatement of these positions and stand ready to work with the Administration and leaders in both parties to make sure these students are not left behind.”
AJ Jefferson, president & CEO of Homeless Children’s Education Fund added: “Students experiencing homelessness and foster care face unique challenges every day and the dedicated federal workers supporting them are critical to ensuring these children have access to stable, equitable education. We urge the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Education to permanently reinstate these essential positions. These students cannot afford to lose the advocates who fight for their success.”
Don Bacon has represented Nebraska’s 2nd District in Congress since 2017 after succeeding Brad Ashford; he was born in Momence, Illinois in 1963.
