Education Department Transfers More Programs to Other Agencies

The move is seen as a step toward dismantling the federal education bureaucracy.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Department of Education is handing over more of its programs and grants to other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department. This is part of the Trump administration's goal of reducing the role of the Education Department and returning education responsibilities to the states.

Why it matters

The agreements to transfer programs and oversight to other agencies are viewed by critics as an effort to undermine the Education Department's role and erode federal oversight of education. Democrats argue this will create confusion and harm students and families who rely on the department's support and enforcement of education laws.

The details

Under the new agreements, the Department of Health and Human Services will take over grant programs that send millions to schools for safety and community engagement efforts. The State Department will take on increased data collection, reporting and enforcement of rules requiring colleges to disclose large foreign gifts. The Education Department has also previously signed agreements to transfer work to the Departments of Labor and Interior.

  • On February 24, 2026, the Education Department announced the new interagency agreements.
  • In 2025, the Education Department signed seven similar agreements to transfer work to other agencies.

The players

Linda McMahon

The U.S. Secretary of Education under the Trump administration, who has advocated for reducing the federal role in education.

Donald Trump

The Republican President who has supported efforts to dismantle the federal Education Department, though only Congress has the authority to fully close it.

Patty Murray

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Washington state who criticized the agreements as jeopardizing resources and support that students and families are entitled to.

Rachel Gittleman

The president of AFGE Local 252, the union representing Education Department workers, who said the agreements would create confusion and harm students and families.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As we continue to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states, our new partnerships with the State Department and HHS represent a practical step toward greater efficiency, stronger coordination, and meaningful improvement.”

— Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education

“These illegal agreements aren't just creating pointless new bureaucracy that burdens our already-overworked teachers and schools; they are actively jeopardizing resources and support that students and families count on and are entitled to under the law.”

— Patty Murray, U.S. Senator

“This isn't efficiency — Secretary McMahon is creating confusion for schools and colleges, eroding public trust, and harming students and families. This is an insult to the tens of millions of students who rely on the Department to safeguard access to quality education and to the taxpayers who depend on federal oversight to prevent waste.”

— Rachel Gittleman, President, AFGE Local 252

What’s next

The future of the programs being transferred to HHS is uncertain, as the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the funding for five of the six programs in its 2026 budget request.

The takeaway

The Education Department's transfer of more of its responsibilities to other agencies is seen as a step toward dismantling the federal role in education, despite concerns that it will create confusion, undermine support for students, and erode oversight and accountability.