Statement from All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd on the Department of Education’s Continued Use of Unauthorized Interagency Agreements
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Contact: Enrique A. Chaurand
Email: echaurand@all4ed.org
Washington, D.C. – “Once again, the leadership of the U.S. Department of Education is using interagency agreements to weaken the federal role in education and bypass congressional authority. Yesterday’s announcement of two new interagency agreements with the Departments of State and Health and Human Services continues a troubling pattern of dismantling the Department from within—without legal authority and without regard for the students and families these programs are meant to serve.
“These actions fly squarely in the face of clear bipartisan language recently included by Congress pushing back against efforts to break up the Department of Education. Lawmakers have explicitly stated that ‘no authority exists for the Department to transfer its fundamental responsibilities under numerous authorizing and appropriations laws—including by procuring services from other federal agencies—to carry out programs, projects, and activities assigned to the Department.’
“We have already witnessed the real harm caused by the transfer of the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) through an illegal interagency agreement. This move has disrupted vital programs that serve millions of students pursuing career pathways and adults seeking to advance their skills and education.
“Fragmenting these responsibilities across multiple agencies weakens coordination, creates confusion for states and grantees, and risks undermining critical programs that support family engagement, school improvement, and educational opportunities. And claims that these agreements will ‘streamline’ services or reduce administrative burdens do not change the reality that this approach sidesteps congressional intent and erodes the federal commitment to education. Instead, it increases burden and confusion for state and local leaders charged with implementing these programs and serving learners every day. Education is not a bureaucratic inconvenience—it is a national responsibility.
“All4Ed urges Congress to uphold the Department’s lawful role in ensuring that every student, regardless of background or zip code, has access to a high-quality education.”
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