Education Department Shifts More Responsibilities to Other Agencies

Agreements with HHS and State Department mark further steps in Trump administration's goal of downsizing the Education Department.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Education Department has announced new interagency agreements to transfer several of its grant programs and data collection responsibilities to the Health and Human Services Department and the State Department. This is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to scale back the Education Department's role and return more education functions to the states.

Why it matters

The agreements represent the latest steps in the Trump administration's push to dismantle the federal Education Department, which they view as an unnecessary bureaucratic layer. Critics argue this will create confusion, erode public trust, and jeopardize resources and support that students and families rely on.

The details

Under the new agreements, the Health and Human Services Department will take over grant programs for school safety and community engagement, while the State Department will increase its role in tracking foreign gifts to universities. The Education Department says this will improve efficiency and coordination, but unions and Democrats argue it will harm students by shifting work to agencies without education expertise.

  • The new interagency agreements were announced on February 23, 2026.
  • Last year, the Education Department signed seven similar agreements to transfer work to other federal agencies.

The players

Linda McMahon

The current U.S. Secretary of Education, appointed by President Trump.

Patty Murray

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Washington state who criticized the new agreements.

AFGE Local 252

The union representing Education Department workers, which said the agreements would create confusion and harm students.

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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 (mymotherlode.com)

“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 (mymotherlode.com)

“This isn't efficiency — Secretary McMahon is creating confusion for schools and colleges, eroding public trust, and harming students and families.”

— Rachel Gittleman, AFGE Local 252 President (mymotherlode.com)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

The Education Department's latest agreements to shift more of its responsibilities to other federal agencies are part of the Trump administration's broader goal of dismantling the federal education bureaucracy and returning more control to the states. While proponents argue this will improve efficiency, critics warn it will create confusion, erode public trust, and jeopardize vital resources and support for students and families.