Education Secretary Linda McMahon has detailed a plan to transfer federal career and technical education programs to the Department of Labor. This move is presented as a key step in a long-term strategy to demonstrate that other government agencies can more efficiently manage functions currently under the Department of Education.
Speaking at two policy summits in Washington, D.C., McMahon affirmed her ultimate goal of closing the department but emphasized a methodical approach. The transfer of workforce development programs serves as a test case for this broader objective, which has drawn criticism from some lawmakers and education advocates.
Key Takeaways
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon is proceeding with a plan to move career and technical education to the Department of Labor.
- The transfer is described as a test to prove other agencies can run education programs more effectively.
- This initiative is part of McMahon's long-term vision to eventually dismantle the Department of Education.
- The plan has faced opposition from critics who question its legality and potential impact on program providers.
- McMahon also addressed campus political discourse, calling for improved civic dialogue following the death of a conservative figure.
A Strategy for Departmental Restructuring
During events hosted by the Federalist Society and the Reagan Institute, Secretary McMahon outlined her vision for the future of the Education Department. She stated that simply closing the department is not a feasible short-term solution, as critical functions like the Office for Civil Rights and Federal Student Aid cannot be abruptly eliminated.
"You don’t just shut off the lights and walk out the door if you are trying to return education to the states," McMahon said at one of the events.
Instead, her strategy involves a gradual transfer of specific programs to other federal agencies. The goal is to create a model for how the department's responsibilities can be redistributed across the government.
The Labor Department Pilot Program
The centerpiece of this strategy is the transfer of adult, career, and technical education programs to the Department of Labor. McMahon argued this move would create better alignment between education and workforce needs.
"Really, what we’re trying to do is to show how we can move different parts of the Department of Education to show that they can be more efficient operating in other agencies," she explained. This pilot is intended to serve as a proof of concept for future restructuring efforts.
Interagency Agreement in Place
The Trump administration has already taken concrete steps to implement this plan. The Department of Education signed an interagency agreement with the Department of Labor earlier this year. As a result, many staff members from the Education Department's career and technical education office have already relocated to the Labor Department's facilities. However, funding for their salaries and the programs they manage will continue to be allocated from the Education Department's budget for the time being.
Implementation and New Initiatives
Secretary McMahon stressed the importance of a deliberate and careful process to ensure the transition is successful. She hopes that demonstrating the efficiency of this new model will encourage congressional support for similar moves in the future.
"Let’s be sure that we are not moving hastily, but that we are taking the right steps at the right pace for success," McMahon told the Federalist Society audience. "If we show that this is an incredibly efficient and effective way to manage these programs, it is my hope that Congress will look at that and approve these moves."
The combined staff from both departments are already collaborating on new projects. According to McMahon, these include a new "learning and employment report" and a "skills wallet." The skills wallet is designed to be a tool that helps students showcase their qualifications to employers and helps employers identify needed skills in the workforce.
"It’s an exciting time in labor development in that country, but it’s a challenge and a real responsibility for us to not get stuck," she remarked at the Reagan Institute summit.
Opposition to the Plan
The proposal to shift these programs has not been without controversy. A range of groups, including student advocacy organizations, institutional lobbyists, Democratic members of Congress, and policy analysts, have raised objections. Critics argue that the move is illegal and will create significant administrative challenges for the educational providers who depend on federal funding for these programs.
Addressing Campus Political Climate
Beyond departmental restructuring, Secretary McMahon also used her platform at both events to address the state of political discourse on college campuses. Her comments were framed by the recent shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
McMahon described the incident as a "travesty" and placed the responsibility on colleges to foster a healthier environment for civic debate. She pointed to Kirk as an example of someone who engaged in challenging, yet civil, discourse.
A Call for Civil Debate
"He wasn’t antagonistic, but he was challenging. And there’s a clever art to being able to do that," McMahon said, noting that while Kirk's approach could be "aggressive," he was also "very polite." She added, "I don’t think that we show our students how to do that enough."
The Secretary condemned reports of faculty, staff, and students who allegedly expressed apathy or celebrated Kirk’s death. While she suggested that such behavior crossed an "ethical line," she also cautioned against measures that would restrict expression.
"If you shut down the speech of one side to allow the freedom of speech for another, you’d have actually compromised the entire principle, and that we cannot have," she stated. In her closing remarks, McMahon urged educators to focus on building compassion among students.
"We’ve lost a little of our humanity," she concluded. "Let’s make sure we grab that back in peace and show it through leadership."
