The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education today announced new interagency agreements to break up the federal education bureaucracy, ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, and move closer to fulfilling the President’s promise to return education to the states. By partnering with agencies that are best positioned to deliver results for students and taxpayers, these agreements will streamline federal education activities on the legally required programs, reduce administrative burdens, and refocus programs and activities to better serve students and grantees.
The new partnerships mark a major step toward improving the management of select Education programs by leveraging partner agencies’ administrative expertise and experience working with relevant stakeholders. These agreements follow a successful workforce development partnership signed with the Labor Department earlier this year, which has created an integrated federal education and workforce system and reduced the need for states to consult multiple federal agencies to effectively manage their programs.
“The Labor Department is committed to working with the Department of Education to ensure our K-12 and postsecondary education programs prepare students for today and tomorrow’s workforce demands,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Parents and community leaders understand how important training and education are for students from all walks of life to succeed and support their local economies. Secretary McMahon and I will continue advancing President Trump’s vision to deliver effective, streamlined resources, so every student has a clear pathway from education to opportunity.”
“The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission. As we partner with these agencies to improve federal programs, we will continue to gather best practices in each state through our 50-state tour, empower local leaders in K-12 education, restore excellence to higher education, and work with Congress to codify these reforms. Together, we will refocus education on students, families, and schools – ensuring federal taxpayer spending is supporting a world-class education system.”
Elementary and Secondary Education Partnership
The Departments of Labor and Education are establishing the Elementary and Secondary Education Partnership to empower parents and states, promote innovation, and deliver program improvements in pursuit of better outcomes for students in elementary and secondary education. The Labor Department will take on a greater role in administering federal K-12 programs, ensuring these programs are better aligned with workforce and college programs to set students up for success at every part of their education journey. With oversight by the Education Department, the Labor Department will manage competitions, provide technical assistance, and integrate Education Department programs with the larger suite of employment and training programs the Labor Department already administers.
View the partnership fact sheet for Elementary and Secondary Education.
Postsecondary Education Partnership
The Departments of Labor and Education are establishing the Postsecondary Education Partnership to better coordinate postsecondary education and workforce development programs. The Labor Department will take on a greater role in administering most postsecondary education grant programs authorized under the Higher Education Act. The backdrop for this agreement is our nation’s annual labor shortage of over 700,000 skilled jobs and the Trump Administration’s commitment to transforming the federal government’s approach to workforce development.
These grants will help students from all walks of life obtain the credentials and career training they need to prosper and contribute to the American economy, as well as provide institutions of higher education with resources to support innovative strategies for learning and workforce advancement. With proper oversight by the Education Department, the Labor Department will manage competitions, provide technical assistance, and integrate the Education Department’s postsecondary education programs into the larger suite of programs the Labor Department already administers.
View the partnership fact sheet for Higher Education.