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A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Trump Administration to permanently restore federal staff who support students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care. Here’s what the letter says and why it matters for over 1.5 million students.

Who Sent the Letter

On Friday, November 14th, U.S. Representatives Summer Lee (D-PA), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Management and Budget urging the permanent reinstatement of the teams responsible for supporting students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care. 

Why It Matters

The letter affirms that the programs administered through the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education are vital for more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. experiencing homelessness and about 270,000 children in the foster system each school year. 

Long Bipartisan Support

The letter also highlights Congress’s long history of bipartisan support for the EHCY program. It was signed by 30 U.S. Representatives. Rep. Summer Lee’s office shared this press release on the letter and POLITICO Education’s newsletter highlighted the importance of the letter here. 

What’s Next for Federal Staff Reinstatement

As part of the agreement to reopen the government, Congress directed the Trump Administration to reverse reduction in force (RIF) notices issued during the shutdown and included language reinstating those officials through at least January 30, 2026. Read SHC’s analysis here and What the U.S. Department of Education is required to Do for Homeless Children and Youth – and Why it Matters.

“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.”

– Barbara Duffield, Executive Director POLITICO Education

We are grateful for the U.S. Representatives that joined Reps. Lee, Bacon, and Panetta, in sending the letter: Nanette Barragán (CA), Salud Carbajal (CA), Andre Carson (IN), Greg Casar (TX), Judy Chu (CA), Emanuel Cleaver (MO), Danny Davis (IL), Madeleine Dean (PA), Dwight Evans (PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Glenn Ivey (MD), Jonathan Jackson (IL), Hank Johnson (GA), Seth Magaziner (RI), Gwen Moore (WI), Kevin Mullin (CA), Jerrold Nadler (NY), Brittany Pettersen (CO), Mike Quigley (IL), Delia Ramirez (IL), Darren Soto (FL), Marilyn Strickland (WA), Shri Thanedar (MI), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Paul Tonko (NY), Gabe Vasquez (NM)