White House starts dismantling Education Dept; most school funds shift to Labor, other agencies
The White House has begun dismantling the Education Department, signing interagency agreements that shift most K‑12 funding and support to the Department of Labor and move additional programs to HHS, State and Interior while ED retains policy guidance, oversight of Labor’s education work, accreditation for federal aid, and continues administering FAFSA, Pell Grants and student loans. Education Secretary Linda McMahon is publicly pushing to eliminate the agency and argues states can assume grantmaking, but officials have not clarified current staff fates after Supreme Court‑upheld layoffs that slashed ED personnel and state and some GOP officials warn the transfers could create disruption and added bureaucracy.
Education
Government/Regulatory
📌 Key Facts
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon is publicly campaigning to dismantle the Education Department, arguing other agencies and states can take over grantmaking and support; she says federal money will continue without disruption and that states will gain flexibility, but only Congress can formally abolish the agency so ED enters a 'limbo' state.
- Interagency agreements were signed days before the department shutdown and announced Nov. 21 to move much of ED’s work to other agencies.
- Most school funding and support functions will shift to the Department of Labor, with additional program transfers going to HHS, the State Department and the Interior Department.
- ED will retain policy guidance and oversight of Labor’s education work and will continue to oversee college accreditation for purposes of federal financial aid.
- FAFSA will remain open and the Education Department will continue supporting applicants; Pell Grants and federal student loans will continue to be disbursed.
- Adult education programs were already transferred to the Department of Labor in June (preceding the broader transfers).
- The U.S. Supreme Court in July upheld mass layoffs that reduced Education Department staff by roughly half.
- Officials have not said whether current Education Department staff will keep their jobs after the transfers; state officials warned of added bureaucracy and disruption (WA, CA, MD, WI) while some, like Virginia’s chief, welcomed more state control.
- Political reaction is mixed: many GOP figures support the move, but there has been pushback from some Republicans (e.g., Sen. Lisa Murkowski) and criticism from former GOP Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.
📰 Sources (3)
Schools fear disruptions as the White House begins dismantling the Education Department
New information:
- Interagency agreements were signed days before the shutdown and announced Tuesday to move much of ED’s work.
- Most school funding/support will shift to the Department of Labor; ED will retain policy guidance and oversight of Labor’s education work.
- Additional program transfers will go to HHS, the State Department, and the Interior Department.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon said federal money will continue without disruption and argued states will gain flexibility; only Congress can abolish ED, so the agency enters a 'limbo' state.
- State officials (WA, CA, MD, WI) warned of added bureaucracy and disruption; VA’s chief welcomed more state control.
- Political reaction includes GOP support but also pushback (e.g., Sen. Lisa Murkowski) and criticism from former GOP Education Secretary Margaret Spellings.
The Education Department is dismantling. Here’s what that means
New information:
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon is publicly campaigning to dismantle the department, arguing other agencies and states can take over grantmaking and support.
- The U.S. Supreme Court in July upheld mass layoffs that reduced Education Department staff by roughly half.
- Adult education programs already moved to the Department of Labor in June, preceding the broader transfers.
- FAFSA remains open and Education will continue supporting applicants; Pell Grants and federal student loans continue to be disbursed.
- Education will continue to oversee college accreditation for purposes of federal financial aid.
- Officials did not say whether current Education Department staff will keep their jobs after the transfers.