Education Department Restructuring: Key Responsibilities Shifted Under Trump's Admin

Wed Nov 19 2025 02:20:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The U.S. Education Department begins the process of transferring its key operations to other federal agencies as part of the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the department.

In a bold move to fulfill President Trump's promise to dismantle the U.S. Education Department, key offices will be shifted to several federal agencies. Education Secretary Linda McMahon argues these functions could be more efficiently managed elsewhere, despite concerns over the impacts on funding for low-income schools and civil rights protections. As the transition begins, questions remain about the adequacy of other agencies in taking over education responsibilities.

In yet another significant move from the Trump administration, the U.S. Education Department is set to break apart several of its main offices and transfer their responsibilities to other federal departments, marking a notable step toward fulfilling the President's campaign promise to eliminate the department entirely.

The transfer of key offices that cater to schools and colleges will be directed to various departments, including Labor, Health and Human Services, and Interior. Education officials maintain that this transition will not disrupt the flow of federal funding to states, schools, and colleges, although the status of current staff remains uncertain.

Since taking office, President Trump has voiced strong opposition to the Education Department, claiming it is dominated by liberal ideology. Plans to dissolve its operations further intensified following a Supreme Court ruling in July that upheld significant layoffs within the department.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has recently begun promoting the idea of terminating her own department, proposing that its grant-making and inquiry functions might be better served by states or other federal agencies.

While questions linger regarding how well other agencies will adapt to these new roles, the transition raises concerns about the potential impact on funding and support for vulnerable populations, including rural and low-income students, and those with disabilities.

Transitioning Responsibilities

The Education Department primarily acts as a conduit for federal funding directed towards schools, a role that will now be shared with various other departments. Notable among the changes, the Department of Labor will take charge of several significant funding streams aimed at supporting low-income communities, including Title I funds. Additionally, programs like adult education have already shifted to Labor.

Health and Human Services is slated to assume control of grants benefiting parents enrolled in college, while the State Department will oversee funds for foreign language education programs. The Interior Department will be responsible for programs focused on Native American education.

Although student loans—amounting to a staggering $1.6 trillion—are currently under the Education Department's purview, they are expected to remain largely unchanged, with McMahon suggesting they may one day be managed by another agency. Pell Grants will continue to be disbursed as previously directed, while the popular FAFSA form remains a vital resource for college financial aid.

Support for Students with Disabilities

As of now, the Education Department will still manage funding aimed at supporting students with disabilities, although these responsibilities may soon shift to Health and Human Services or even the Justice Department in the future. This aspect sparks concerns over the ability to effectively handle complaints related to discrimination, as the department has already experienced significant staffing reductions, raising questions about its capacity to address critical civil rights issues.

The success of this substantial restructuring will ultimately be measured by its impact on education across the nation, particularly for the most vulnerable student populations that depend significantly on federal support.