President Donald Trump’s administration announced significant changes to the U.S. Department of Education on October 6, 2025, by signing six interagency agreements aimed at transferring several of its responsibilities to other federal departments. This move has sparked immediate backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who are questioning its legality, as well as from labor unions advocating for education.
The agreements involve the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State, reflecting Trump’s ongoing commitment to decentralize education and return control to the states. This initiative aligns with a promise Trump emphasized during his campaign, which he has tasked Education Secretary Linda McMahon to implement.
“This is part of President Trump’s plan to return education to the states,” McMahon stated in an interview following the announcement. “The best education is the one closest to the child, not one managed by a bureaucracy in Washington, D.C.”
Details of the Interagency Agreements
The agreements will see the Department of Labor taking on a more substantial role in managing elementary and secondary education programs currently overseen by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Department of Labor will also administrate higher education grant programs, including TRIO and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, known as GEAR UP.
Additionally, the Department of the Interior will handle the Education Department’s Indian Education programs, while Health and Human Services will oversee the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation. The State Department will take charge of all foreign education programs.
Despite these changes, the Education Department has assured the public that it will maintain all statutory responsibilities and continue to oversee the programs being transferred. A senior official from the department indicated there would be a “bit of a lag” in fully executing the agreements and could not specify how many employees would transition to the other agencies.
Political Reactions and Concerns
Democratic leaders have reacted strongly against the administration’s actions. Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, condemned the agreements as an “outright illegal effort to continue dismantling the Department of Education.” She warned that students and families would be adversely affected as essential educational programs could be weakened or entirely dismantled.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the House Appropriations panel, echoed these concerns, stating that such unilateral actions would alter the core functions of educational programs. “This is not about efficiency; it’s about creating bureaucratic hurdles that will render the Department of Education ineffective,” she explained in a statement.
The move has also drawn criticism from labor unions. Rachel Gittleman, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, labeled the administration’s actions as unlawful and damaging to the educational system. She emphasized the necessity of the Department of Education’s comprehensive support for schools, which she believes will be compromised by scattering its functions across various agencies.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, added that dividing services among multiple departments would only lead to confusion and inefficiencies, ultimately hindering access to necessary support for students.
As the Trump administration pushes forward with these changes, it remains to be seen how they will affect the landscape of education in the United States. The difficulties in securing legislative support in the Senate, where Republicans hold only 53 out of 100 seats, may complicate the implementation of these agreements.
With heightened tensions surrounding education policy, lawmakers and unions alike are preparing to engage in significant debates as they navigate through these changes and their implications for the future of education in America.
