Washington DC -The head of Special Education within the Department of Education has resigned as President Donald Trump's administration continues efforts to downsize the agency.
According to NPR, Kelly Rogers, who has overseen the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services since May, informed her colleagues on Wednesday of her resignation.
"I have made the decision to resign from my position as Deputy Assistant Secretary/Acting Assistant Secretary for OSERS to return home to Florida, effective September 11, 2026," Rogers wrote in her message.
"While I am stepping away, I remain confident in the team's ability to continue moving forward with strengthened outcomes for individuals with disabilities through the [Department of Health and Human Services] partnership."
Internal emails revealed that her exit came a day before over 100 members of her staff were scheduled to move to the HHS building as part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to downsize the education agency.
One staffer told NPR that everyone was "shocked" by her announcement.
While running for president in 2024, Trump campaigned on shutting down the Department of Education, arguing that education oversight should be left to individual states.
When the Trump administration first announced the department's move to HHS in June, Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the decision, arguing that parents must exert "Herculean" efforts to get the help they need, and explained that her goal is to scale back "federal micromanagement" and "break down the bureaucratic barriers."
With Rogers' departure, it is unclear who will fill her role or who will oversee the shift of her employees to the HHS building located a block away.