Department of Education Restructuring Explained

The Department of Education restructuring revealed in a new CNN interview marks the most significant shift in federal education authority in nearly 50 years. In a new CNN interview, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon confirmed that six major Department of Education (ED) offices are being transferred to other federal agencies — a sweeping move that accelerates the administration’s long-standing goal of minimizing ED’s core authority.

This restructuring follows President Trump’s March executive order directing ED to “begin standing down” key federal education functions. While eliminating the agency entirely would still require congressional approval, the administration is now advancing a strategy that effectively hollows out ED from within, moving its operational power elsewhere.

1. What the CNN Interview Revealed

CNN’s Dana Bash pressed Secretary McMahon on why the moves are happening now and what the future of ED looks like. Her comments were unusually direct:

• ED is formally transferring entire offices through binding interagency agreements.

• These offices will now report to the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), Interior (DOI), and State (DOS).

• The Secretary framed the shift as a modernization effort that “aligns programs where they naturally belong.”

• The administration views this as evidence that ED’s “centralized bureaucracy” is no longer necessary.

The tone of the interview signaled a clear message: this is not administrative tweaking — this is structural repositioning.

2. What Exactly Is Being Transferred in the Department of Education Restructuring?

According to ED’s announcement and independent reporting from Reuters and The Guardian, the transfers include entire program units, not just isolated tasks or grant lines.

To the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

HHS will absorb programs focused on early childhood learning and family support, including:

• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Centers

• Family engagement and community support units

To the Department of Labor (DOL)

DOL will take over career-aligned programs such as:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) policy offices

• Youth workforce development partnerships

To the Department of the Interior (DOI)

DOI will now oversee:

• Bureau of Indian Education coordination

• Tribal school operations and support programs

To the Department of State (DOS)

DOS will assume responsibility for:

• International student exchange programs

• Global education initiatives and partnerships

3. What’s Driving the Department of Education Restructuring Right Now

A post-shutdown window of opportunity

The multi-week shutdown left ED with reduced internal capacity. Restructuring during this period allowed the administration to move quickly while the department was still stabilizing operations.

Built on a March executive order

The President’s executive order authorized ED to begin transitioning functions immediately, even though full agency elimination still requires Congress.

A decades-long conservative goal

Advocates of downsizing ED argue that states — not Washington — should lead on education, and that programs like CTE or early childhood should be housed within agencies more aligned to workforce or health services.

This restructuring is the most aggressive step toward that vision in over 40 years.

4. What Supporters Say

Supporters of the transfer argue the benefits include:

• Reducing bureaucratic duplication

• Aligning early childhood with HHS, workforce programs with DOL, and tribal education with DOI

• Creating “efficiency through specialization”

• Empowering states to lead without federal mandates

The interview repeatedly emphasized “efficiency,” “realignment,” and “avoiding waste.”

5. What Critics Say About the Department of Education Restructuring

Critics raise several concerns:

Fragmentation of oversight

With programs split across four agencies, federal education governance becomes less coordinated and harder for districts to navigate.

Loss of expertise

ED has decades of accumulated knowledge around Title I, IDEA, civil rights, and EL programs. Transferring units risks losing that specialization or diluting it inside agencies with different missions.

Equity risks

Students in high-poverty districts, tribal schools, and special education programs may experience uneven services without a unified education department.

Circumventing congressional authority

Eliminating ED requires Congress. Critics argue this restructuring attempts to achieve the same outcome without direct legislative approval.

6. What This Means for Schools and Districts

The immediate classroom impact may be subtle — but the structural consequences will be profound.

Oversight pathways will change

Districts will need to determine which agency now governs which program area and adjust compliance processes accordingly.

Grant programs may be rebuilt

New host agencies may reframe programs around their own missions, particularly in workforce and global education.

Civil rights protections could become less consistent

OCR remains at ED for now, but as supporting offices move, enforcement coherence may weaken.

IDEA, Title I, and EL services may face future restructuring

While not transferred yet, related offices moving out signals potential stages ahead.

States will shoulder more responsibility

Less centralized guidance could shift the burden to state agencies — widening disparities between high-capacity and under-resourced states.

7. What District Leaders Should Do Now During the Department of Education Restructuring

Monitor weekly announcements from ED and the receiving agencies

Each transition comes with new deadlines, reporting channels, and instructions.

Strengthen internal compliance systems

Less federal oversight means greater district responsibility — especially for Title I, IDEA, and CTE.

Build direct relationships with the new agencies

District CTE leaders, early childhood coordinators, tribal liaisons, and international programs staff should begin contacting their new federal counterparts.

Prepare families and staff for changing structures

Transparency prevents confusion as programs begin shifting in early 2026.

Expect more restructuring

This is described as “phase one.” Additional office transfers are likely.

Conclusion

The CNN interview with Secretary Linda McMahon marks the most significant federal education power shift in nearly half a century. The transfer of six major offices from the Department of Education to four other agencies is not a symbolic gesture — it represents a structural recalibration of federal education authority.

For district and school leaders, this moment demands attention.
The landscape of federal education governance is evolving rapidly, and schools must prepare to operate within a more decentralized, more complex, and less unified federal system.

This is not only a transition.

It is the beginning of a transformed era for American education.

CNN – Trump admin accelerates push to dismantle Department of Education

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