The U.S. Department of Education initially cut funding for programs assisting students with deafblindness after public criticism of the move. These cuts specifically targeted four agencies in a national network. The Trump administration's rationale cited concerns about "divisive concepts" and "fairness" in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. ProPublica and other news outlets reported on the funding cancellations, impacting services in multiple states. Despite appeals, the department initially denied the programs' requests for a reversal. However, the Education Department later rerouted the grant money to the National Center on Deafblindness to provide the same funds to those agencies. This funding will only cover one year of services, creating uncertainty for future years. The shift disrupted programs like the Oregon DeafBlind Project, forcing them to cancel events and creating mistrust. The Education Department specifically cited concerns about the agency’s commitments to address inequities and bias as the cause of the initial cuts. An advocate criticized the department's actions as disruptive and mean-spirited to vulnerable students and families. The initial grants to the agencies totaled about $1 million annually, with the programs supporting roughly 1,000 deafblind students across the affected states. These specialized programs are crucial for educating a small but complex population.