Implications of the 2025 Shutdown

TESOL International Association’s webinar addressed the US government shutdown’s impact on English Language Teaching (ELT). The shutdown stems from Congress’s failure to pass FY2026 appropriation bills. The Department of Education has furloughed 87% of its staff, shuttered the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA), halted civil rights investigations, and paused new grants. While FY2025 funds were largely released, combined with past proposals to eliminate English learner funding, this creates significant negative ramifications for ELT professionals and multilingual learners. Urgent advocacy at state and local levels is crucial.