Education Department moves two programs to other agencies as admin aims to close it

The State Department will oversee Section 117 on foreign gift reporting requirements for universities, while HHS will oversee some family engagement and school support programs.

Published: February 23, 2026 6:05pm

The Department of Education announced Monday that it was giving two more of its responsibilities to other agencies as the Trump administration makes moves to shutter it.

The change comes after the Trump administration announced last year that it was giving the department's responsibilities to five different federal agencies, consisting of the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services and State.

The two latest programs will now be under the control of the Departments of State and HHS. 

“As we continue to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states, our new partnerships with the State Department and HHS represent a practical step toward greater efficiency, stronger coordination, and meaningful improvement,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. 

The State Department will ensure universities meet federal requirements on reporting foreign gifts under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, while HHS will oversee some family engagement and school support programs.

“Foreign gift data reported by universities should be readily accessible to our top national security experts, allowing for proactive and decisive action to protect America’s critical interests, as this partnership with State enables," McMahon said. 

"By leveraging HHS’s extensive emergency preparedness capabilities, we are creating a stronger foundation for supporting students and strengthening the safety of the school building," she continued. "Together, these efforts strengthen accountability and security in our education system, ensuring it serves students and families above all else."

The ongoing steps to shutter the Education Department make good on a Trump campaign promise to return education to the states. 

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