Department of Education Transferred Programs and Staff
The federal agency has moved over 100 programs to other departments as it works to reduce its workforce.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Administration
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The Department of Education has transferred management of more than 100 programs to other federal agencies following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The move represents a significant reduction in the department's size and scope.
Why it matters
The administration is executing this transition to reduce federal bureaucracy and shift authority back to states and local school districts. This shift marks a major restructuring of federal oversight of the American education system.
The agency has offloaded management of over 100 programs to other departments, including moving Title I and K-12 grants to the Labor Department. Additionally, portions of the student-loan portfolio have been transferred to the Treasury Department.
The players
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States who signed the executive order to dismantle the department.
Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon is the Secretary of Education who is overseeing the transition and intended closure of the agency.
The details
Under the authority of the Economy Act, the Secretary of Education has utilized inter-agency agreements to facilitate the transfer of staff and operational oversight. These changes align with the goal of Secretary Linda McMahon to make her own position obsolete.
Timeline
March 2025: President Donald Trump signed an executive order to close the department.
March 2025: The department carried out a series of staff layoffs.
October 2, 2026: Reports confirmed the current status of the departmental transitions.
Culture Shift
This transition aligns with a broader societal movement toward federal decentralization and the reduction of administrative oversight in Washington D.C. The restructuring reflects a departure from the traditional model of large-scale, centralized federal education management.
The transfer of grants and program management may change how state and local schools interact with federal funding sources. Residents should expect evolving processes for managing student loans and K-12 grant applications as these functions move to new departments.
The takeaway
The federal government is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of education management through widespread program consolidation. Stakeholders should monitor which specific departments are now responsible for the programs previously managed at the agency headquarters.
Further reading
For more information on the ongoing restructuring of federal offices, visit the Administration section.
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