Department of Education hands off more of its responsibilities to other US agencies

February 24, 2026 - 11:10

In a significant shift of administrative responsibility, the U.S. Department of Education is moving forward with plans to transfer the oversight of several of its grant programs and initiatives to other federal departments. This realignment aims to streamline operations and place specific educational functions under agencies whose core missions are more directly aligned with the programs' goals.

The transferred responsibilities are expected to include certain grant programs related to school safety, civics education, and potentially aspects of career and technical training. The objective behind the move is to enhance efficiency and effectiveness by leveraging the specialized expertise housed in other parts of the federal government. For instance, a school safety initiative might find a more natural home within an agency focused on community security and justice.

Proponents of the transfer argue that consolidating related programs under one roof will reduce bureaucratic overlap, simplify the application process for states and institutions, and ultimately improve outcomes. They believe that agencies with a more targeted mission can administer these education-adjacent programs with greater focus.

The transition will require careful coordination to ensure a smooth handoff of duties, data, and funding streams without disrupting current grant recipients. While the full scope and timeline of the transfers are still being finalized, this move signals a continued effort to reorganize federal education policy administration for perceived greater impact and operational coherence. The changes will be closely watched by state education officials and educational institutions across the nation.