On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) announced six new interagency agreements (IAAs) with four agencies to break up the USDE saying that doing so will “ensure efficient delivery of funded programs, activities, 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 IAAs 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 partnerships with the Departments of Labor (DOL), Interior (DOI), Health and Human Services (HHS), and State follow a workforce development partnership signed with DOL earlier this year.
“The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” said U.S. 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.”
According to a USDE press release, the USDE and DOL “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. DOL 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 proper oversight by USDE, DOL will manage competitions, provide technical assistance, and integrate USDE’s programs with the suite of employment and training programs DOL already administers.”
In addition, the press release states that the USDE and DOI are establishing the Indian Education Partnership “to improve Native American education in the United States. DOI will take on a greater role in administering Indian Education programs relating to elementary and secondary education, higher education, career and technical education, and vocational rehabilitation, solidifying the agency as the key point of contact for Tribes and Native students. With proper oversight by USDE, DOI will manage competitions, provide technical assistance, and integrate USDE’s Indian Education programs with the suite of programs DOI already administers.”
According to K-12 Dive, the shifting of responsibilities is a historic change for the 46-year-old agency that has been the central hub of federal grant-making, technical assistance and civil rights enforcement for schools and colleges. The changes do not include movement for the management of special education, civil rights enforcement or student financial aid. However, a senior USDE official who spoke during a press call said the agency was continuing to explore options for those programs.
In a statement announcing American Education Week, President Donald Trump said, “By dismantling the Department of Education, my Administration has returned control of education to where it belongs — with States, local communities, and parents who are best equipped to meet the needs of their students.”
And in an opinion piece published in USA Today on Sunday, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the recently ended 43-day shutdown of the federal government showed that the USDE isn’t needed.
For more from K-12 Dive, click here.
View the partnership fact sheet for Elementary and Secondary Education here.
View the partnership fact sheet for Indian Education here.
View the press release in its entirety by clicking here.