On Thursday, November 20th, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized that education should prioritize students over bureaucratic management. Speaking at a White House press conference, she outlined the recent reform measures taken by the Department of Education, including transferring K-12 programs to the Department of Labor and urging Congress to make these reforms permanent.
Secretary McMahon stated, “I am here today to speak directly to American families about the work this administration has done in the field of education, to reverse the decline in our national education system and completely reshape America’s educational system.”
A recent education report in the US found that college freshmen have math skills only at the middle school level, with many struggling with fractions and simple algebra. According to a report from the University of California, San Diego, over 900 new freshmen scored below high school level in math, with the majority not even meeting middle school math standards.
Five years ago, the university had only about 30 college freshmen with math skills below high school level. In 2024, the university, with a less than 30% undergraduate admission rate, introduced a remedial math course based entirely on elementary and middle school math concepts.
McMahon said, “Reshaping the education system was an important promise made by President Trump during his campaign, prioritizing returning education power to the states and ending Washington’s micro-management of education.”
She mentioned six interagency agreements reached this week between the Department of Education and other federal agencies, aimed at transferring responsibilities for certain statutory projects to other institutions.
These agreements involve the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and the State Department, including transferring the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education from Pre-K to 12th grade to the Department of Labor, and transferring Indian education programs to the Department of the Interior.
“These interagency agreements aimed at streamlining our own bureaucratic institutions are a crucial step in transferring education power from Washington, D.C. to your state education institutions, your local education directors, and your local school boards, allowing local institutions to be accountable for your education,” McMahon said.
“That’s why the ultimate mission of our Department of Education is to fully empower the states, so they can carry the torch of our educational revival,” the Education Secretary said. “Education is local; it should be overseen by those who understand local needs.”
“The next generation of Americans will look back at the work we have done and will be thankful for establishing an education system that prioritizes students over bureaucracy,” she added.
A senior official stated that the Department of Education will still be responsible for oversight while other departments will primarily handle budget management.
McMahon revealed on Thursday, “I have spoken to dozens of members of Congress, explaining in detail what we are doing, keeping them informed of the latest developments and telling them, ‘Once we complete some successful transitions, we will seek congressional legislation for confirmation.'”
Thoroughly abolishing the Department of Education would require congressional legislation. Experts speculate that without congressional approval, the next administration could easily cancel these agreements and hand these projects back to the Department of Education.
Since President Trump’s signing of executive orders aimed at reducing the size of federal agencies as much as possible, the Department of Education’s move to downsize itself is one of the boldest steps taken.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that during the 43-day government shutdown, a valuable action was taken.
“It proves that the United States does not need the Department of Education,” Leavitt said. “During the longest government shutdown in history, 90% of department employees were on furlough, yet the American education system was not affected at all. Schools nationwide remained fully operational. Students continued attending classes as usual, receiving regular face-to-face instruction. Our excellent teachers continued to receive their salaries as usual.”
“President Trump has taken an important step towards fulfilling his core campaign promise – the eventual closure of the Department of Education,” she said.
According to a statement from the Department of Education on Tuesday, they will jointly manage elementary education programs with the Department of Labor, including programs for at-risk students, mobile children, homeless students, second language learning, arts education, reading literacy, and charter schools.
The statement noted, “Co-managing K-12 education programs with the Department of Labor will create a unified talent development strategy to build America’s workforce for a golden age.”
States will continue to receive existing federal funds as normal, but disbursements will be handled by the Department of Labor, not the Department of Education. Additionally, federal grants for Native American education will be overseen by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) under the Department of the Interior, while education and language programs for overseas students will be managed by the State Department.
A fact sheet on the new arrangements stated that the collaboration between the Department of Education and the Department of Labor aims to address issues such as “high dropout rates, low literacy rates, and low labor force participation.”
“While the federal government invests heavily, the current educational system still fails to meet the needs of the American people,” the fact sheet noted. “By integrating learning pathways and resources, we are laying the foundation to cultivate a stronger, more prepared next generation that can meet the evolving economic demands and become successful members of a free society.”
The fact sheet stated that institutional integration can “help states reduce disconnects during transitions in educational stages, enhance literacy and numeracy skills, strengthen career exploration, and ensure better alignment between educational outcomes and labor needs.”
Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services will be responsible for overseeing the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA) to ensure that foreign medical schools meet US standards; meanwhile, the department will also manage the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, providing consistent on-campus childcare support for full-time low-income parents.
The State Department will manage international education and foreign language learning programs funded by the Fulbright-Hays grant, eliminating duplication of work and enabling the State Department to align these programs with “national security and foreign policy priorities.”