A coalition memo warns the U.S. Department of Education is at risk of losing about $289 million earmarked for education research because funds must be spent by Sept. 30 or returned to the Treasury. The Knowledge Alliance reviewed Office of Management and Budget documents and estimates the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) could lose roughly 82% of special education research funds based on allocations tied to the two-year spending window. IES is the central federal education research and data agency that maintains IPEDS. The memo says lapses would disrupt research, data collections, technical assistance, and support for states. It cites an environment in which IES has faced budget pressure and restructuring proposals under President Trump. For higher education and state education agencies, the warning highlights the importance of grant management capacity and timely obligation to prevent research infrastructure gaps that extend beyond any single competition.