This report has been updated.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced significant steps to dismantle the Department of Education, revealing six interagency agreements with other departments to redistribute its responsibilities. This move aims to delegate educational duties to state-level control, aligning with President Trump’s campaign promise to decentralize education. Notably, Education Secretary Linda McMahon is spearheading this initiative to transfer specific programs to other federal departments.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from Democratic lawmakers and labor unions, questioning its legality. The agreements involve the departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services (HHS), and State, reflecting Trump’s long-term goal to reduce federal oversight in education.
McMahon described the strategy as a “test run,” asserting that relocating programs could lead to more efficient operations. She expressed hopes that Congress might eventually approve making these transfers permanent. However, such efforts face challenges in the Senate, where at least 60 votes are needed to progress most legislation. Republicans currently hold 53 seats.
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed with significant layoffs and a downsizing plan for the Education Department signed by Trump in March.
How Education Agreements Will Work
The Department of Education clarified that it will maintain statutory oversight over the programs involved in these agreements. A senior official noted that it’s unclear how many employees will transition to other agencies, indicating a lag in full implementation.
The Department of Labor will assume a larger role in managing elementary and secondary education programs. It will handle competitions and integrate these with existing employment and training initiatives. Similarly, Labor will manage higher education grant programs like TRIO and GEAR UP, alongside others such as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.
The Interior Department will increase its role in Indian Education programs, while HHS will oversee foreign medical education accreditation and manage programs like Child Care Access Means Parents in School. The State Department will take charge of foreign education programs.
‘Outright Illegal Effort’
Sen. Patty Murray criticized the move as an “outright illegal effort,” arguing it harms students and families by misplacing vital educational programs. Rep. Rosa DeLauro claimed the initiative undermines the Education Department’s purpose, creating bureaucratic challenges and wasteful costs.
Rep. Bobby Scott denounced the transfers as inefficient and called on Republicans to collaborate with Democrats against these changes. He emphasized the importance of protecting the civil rights of vulnerable student groups.
Unions Slam Move
Rachel Gittleman of the American Federation of Government Employees labeled the administration’s actions as unlawful, emphasizing the importance of the department’s centralized support. Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers warned that spreading services across departments would lead to confusion and weaken public schools.
Weingarten stressed the federal government must uphold its educational responsibilities, urging Congress to reclaim its authority during funding discussions.
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