The Trump administration is implementing a plan to shrink the U.S. Department of Education by moving six of its offices to four other federal agencies. K–12 and postsecondary education offices are expected to move to the Department of Labor; the Office of Indian Education to the Interior; foreign-language programs to State; and a child-care access program and a medical-education program to HHS. Officials say the changes are a step toward President Trump’s goal of eliminating the agency, though authority over special education will not transfer immediately. The Education Department did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump Administration Unveils Plan to Dismantle Education Department — Six Offices Reassigned
The Trump administration is implementing a plan to shrink the U.S. Department of Education by moving six of its offices to four other federal agencies. K–12 and postsecondary education offices are expected to move to the Department of Labor; the Office of Indian Education to the Interior; foreign-language programs to State; and a child-care access program and a medical-education program to HHS. Officials say the changes are a step toward President Trump’s goal of eliminating the agency, though authority over special education will not transfer immediately. The Education Department did not respond to requests for comment.
09:19 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
Trump administration advances plan to dismantle Education Department
The Trump administration is moving forward with a long-telegraphed plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education by transferring several of its major responsibilities to other federal agencies, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Two sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said six Education Department offices are slated to be reassigned across four agencies. Officials describe the reorganization as an important step toward President Donald Trump’s stated goal of eliminating the department.
Planned transfers include:
- Office of Elementary and Secondary Education → Department of Labor
- Office of Postsecondary Education → Department of Labor
- Office of Indian Education → Department of the Interior
- Foreign-language programs → Department of State
- Child-care access program → Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Medical-education program → Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Sources emphasized that, despite the broad scope of the reorganization, federal authority over special education would not immediately move to HHS. The initiative has been described by observers as an unprecedented effort to outsource the department’s operations.
The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment ahead of a formal announcement planned for Tuesday afternoon.
Note: The plans were reported by people familiar with internal discussions who spoke anonymously prior to an official statement.