What’s at Stake in Congress’s Latest Education Proposal?

Last week, the House Education and Workforce Committee approved a package of ten bills they titled the “Less Bureaucracy, Better Education” legislative package.

Supporters say the bills would streamline government. But education organizations, school leaders, civil rights advocates, and workforce development groups say the legislation would do the opposite by permanently moving key education responsibilities out of the U.S. Department of Education and into other federal agencies.

One of the most significant proposals would transfer the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, or OCTAE, to the Department of Labor.

Dr. Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed, who most recently served as the Assistant Secretary to OCTAE, says the proposal reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of what career and technical education is and who it serves.

Dr. Loyd says, “Career and technical education is not simply workforce training. It helps students learn how to navigate complexity, have opportunities for lifelong learning and economic mobility, and lead choice-filled lives.”

According to Dr. Loyd, career and technical education is an essential part of the nation’s education system, connecting academic learning, career exploration, and technical skill development from middle school through postsecondary education. Separating OCTAE from the Department of Education, she says, weakens those connections and risks undermining the outcomes that students, employers, and communities depend on.

Opponents also say the impact is no longer theoretical. Many of these changes are already happening.
Since the administration began transferring responsibilities through interagency agreements, the Department of Education has reduced its workforce by roughly 40 percent. States have reported delays accessing federal funds, grantees have struggled to receive timely guidance, and school systems are increasingly navigating multiple federal agencies instead of one.
Critics argue the legislation would make those changes permanent rather than improve government efficiency.

Representative Kevin Kiley, a former Republican who now serves as an Independent from California, was among those who voted against moving K-12 education responsibilities out of the Department of Education.

“I wholly believe that, uh education is an issue generally for states and better yet
local communities and local school districts. But it is a national priority and it needs to be a lot more of a national priority. And unfortunately, this bill takes us in the other direction.”

Congressman Kiley went on to say – “Shutting down the Department of Education is the wrong thing for our country. I have made it clear since the beginning of this Administration that I am for reforms to focus the department’s mission but will oppose any effort to shut it down or remove the core K-12 programs that support teachers and students.”

The legislation now heads to the full House for consideration. As Congress continues debating the future of federal education policy, education advocates say the priority should remain clear: ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for college, careers, and lifelong success.

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