Overview
- Six interagency agreements move day-to-day administration of key K‑12 and higher‑education functions to Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State.
- Affected areas include federal K‑12 and postsecondary program administration, Indian education, foreign medical school accreditation reviews, campus child care grants, and Fulbright‑Hays programs.
- The Department of Education remains responsible for federal student aid operations and accreditation authority, including oversight of the $1.6 trillion student‑loan portfolio.
- Former officials and civil‑rights advocates report confusion and slower distribution for some career and technical education funds and warn of reduced capacity in the Office for Civil Rights.
- Policy analysts say the agreements likely leave statutory responsibility with Education and may not produce significant savings, placing the next steps with Congress and the courts.