Sponsor
Mark Harris
Representative · R-NC
Representative · R-NC
The bill centralizes workforce‑related education programs under the Department of Labor to preserve continuity and better align training with employment outcomes, but in doing so risks disrupting students and schools, increasing administrative burdens for states and institutions, and creating governance, accountability, and budgetary challenges.
Students, beneficiaries, contractors, and federal employees will see ongoing programs, contracts, payments, and services continue with minimal immediate interruption because authority, assets, records, contracts, and unexpended funds transfer to Labor and existing staff can keep working during the transition.
Students (K–12 and higher education at HBCUs/HSIs/other MSIs) and educators may benefit from improved alignment between education programs and workforce/training initiatives when workforce-related education programs are consolidated under DOL.
Federal employees whose jobs transfer are more likely to keep employment, benefits, and continuity of duties because personnel will be reassigned to the Department of Labor rather than terminated.
Students, schools, and students with disabilities face disruption, delays, and potential loss of education‑specific expertise and disability accommodations as eleven HEA and K–12 functions shift from ED to DOL and agency rules, priorities, and procedures change.
State and local education agencies, colleges, grantees, and contractors will incur administrative costs and burdens (updating references, contracts, reporting, and points of contact) to adapt to DOL administration, creating expense and operational friction.
Programs moved into the Department of Labor risk mismatches in institutional expertise and priorities (workforce emphasis vs. traditional education goals), which could reduce program effectiveness and deprioritize academic or accommodation needs.
Based on analysis of 11 sections of legislative text.
Transfers specified Higher Education Act programs, authorities, personnel, records, and funds from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor and preserves legal continuity.
Official title: To ensure the Department of Labor will manage certain postsecondary education programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 9, 2026 by Mark Harris · Last progress July 9, 2026
Transfers multiple higher education programs and related authorities from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, placing program administration, personnel, assets, contracts, records, and unspent funds under Labor. The move preserves existing grants, rules, lawsuits, and procedural requirements while directing OMB to ensure no net increase in federal FTEs and allowing transitional use of Education resources to implement the transfer. The transferred programs include TRIO, GEAR UP, Title V, HBCU and minority-serving institution programs, HBCU capital financing, graduate assistance in high-need areas, and several capacity-building and improvement grants. The Secretary of Labor receives the same legal authorities previously held by the Secretary of Education for these functions, and statutory references to Education offices are read as references to corresponding Labor entities after the transfer takes effect (generally six months after enactment, with limited earlier transfers allowed).