Education Department Transfers More Responsibilities to Other Agencies

Agreements with HHS and State Department mark latest steps in Trump administration's effort to scale back federal education role.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Education Department has announced new 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 the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to scale back the federal government's role in education by parceling out the Education Department's functions to other agencies.

Why it matters

The agreements are part of the Trump administration's broader goal of reducing the size and scope of the Education Department, which Republicans have long argued should have a more limited federal role. Critics say the transfers will create confusion and undermine oversight and support for students and schools.

The details

Under the new agreements, HHS will take over grant programs that provide funding for school safety and community engagement efforts, while the State Department will assume responsibility for tracking foreign gifts to universities. The Education Department has already signed similar agreements in the past year to shift other programs, like Title I funding for low-income students, to the Labor and Interior Departments.

  • The new agreements were announced on February 25, 2026.
  • Last year, the Education Department signed seven similar agreements to transfer work to other federal agencies.

The players

Linda McMahon

The Education Secretary under the Trump administration, who has advocated for scaling back the federal role in education.

Patty Murray

A Democratic Senator from Washington state who criticized the agreements as jeopardizing resources and support for students and families.

AFGE Local 252

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

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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, Education Secretary (fox5vegas.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, Democratic Senator (fox5vegas.com)

“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, AFGE Local 252 President (fox5vegas.com)

What’s next

The future of the programs being transferred to HHS is uncertain, as the Trump administration has proposed eliminating the budget 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 federal agencies is the latest step in the Trump administration's efforts to scale back the federal government's role in education. While proponents argue this will improve efficiency, critics warn it will create confusion and undermine support for students and schools.