Education Department Moves Major Programs to Other Federal Agencies as Downsizing Continues

The U.S. Department of Education has begun shifting management of several major programs to other federal agencies, a move that advances the Trump administration's effort to scale back the department created in 1979. In November 2025, the department announced a set of interagency agreements that would transfer oversight of a range of K-12 and postsecondary functions to the Labor Department and other agencies, while the department says it remains responsible for statutory obligations.

A Plan Set in Motion by a March Executive Order

The effort traces back to a March 2025 executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to plan for closing the department to the maximum extent permitted by law. The order did not itself abolish the agency, which would require an act of Congress. Instead, it directed the department to shift responsibilities to states, local institutions and other federal agencies wherever possible.

The department went through a large reduction in force in March 2025, cutting roughly half of its workforce. Litigation followed from states, school districts and unions. In July 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the layoffs to proceed while lower-court cases continued, a ruling that cleared the way for further restructuring.

What the New Agreements Cover

According to the department's announcement, the interagency agreements move administration of certain grant programs and offices to other agencies. The Labor Department is slated to take on responsibility for a number of adult education and career-focused programs, which aligns with a broader push to connect schooling more closely with workforce training. Other functions were directed to agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Interior Department, which already administer education-related initiatives for specific populations.

Officials have argued that the changes will reduce duplication, speed up grant distribution and return more decision-making to states. Supporters of the approach say education policy has grown too centralized in Washington and that many of the programs can be run more efficiently elsewhere in government.

Concerns From Educators and Lawmakers

Critics, including many Democratic lawmakers, education advocacy groups and some school officials, have questioned whether the department can carry out its responsibilities with a sharply reduced staff. They point to the risk of delays in federal funding for high-poverty schools, special education services and students with disabilities, many of which rely on predictable federal grants. Some have also raised legal questions about whether the executive branch can reshape programs that Congress created by statute without legislative approval.

Civil rights enforcement, which the Office for Civil Rights handles, has drawn particular attention. Advocacy groups have warned that reduced staffing could slow investigations into discrimination complaints involving students. The department has said it will continue to enforce federal civil rights laws.

What Comes Next

Whether the department can be closed in full depends on Congress. Abolishing a cabinet-level agency requires legislation, and the Senate's 60-vote threshold for most bills makes a complete shutdown politically difficult. For now, the administration is pursuing a piecemeal approach, moving programs one agreement at a time and relying on existing authority to reorganize how federal education dollars are administered.

School districts, state education agencies and colleges are watching closely. Many have said they need clarity on which office to contact, how grant timelines will work and whether funding formulas will change. As the transfers continue into 2026, the practical effects on classrooms will depend on how smoothly responsibilities move and whether courts or Congress intervene.