By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US Department of Education announced Tuesday that it is reassigning many of its functions to other federal agencies, the latest move to pair down the agency amid President Donald Trump's push to shutter it.
Trump signed an executive order in March that seeks to close the Education Department, but that can only be accomplished via an act of Congress, something Education Secretary Linda McMahon appeared to acknowledge when she announced the latest "bold action" to wind down the agency.
“Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission," she said in a statement.
"As we partner with these agencies to improve federal programs, we will continue to gather best practices in each state through our 50-state tour, empower local leaders in K-12 education, restore excellence to higher education, and work with Congress to codify these reforms. Together, we will refocus education on students, families, and schools – ensuring federal taxpayer spending is supporting a world-class education system," she added.
It is not clear how moving offices to other agencies reduces "red tape," but McMahon's plan hinges on six interagency agreements the department is signing with the Labor, Interior and State Department, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services that will shift some of the department's offices to the agencies.
Under the terms of the agreements, the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and parts of the Office of Postsecondary Education will be co-managed by the Labor and Education Departments. The Office of Indian Education will be shifted to the Interior Department.
The Department of Health and Human Services will be tasked with overseeing child care access and foreign education programs, including evaluating the standards of accreditation for foreign medical schools.
The State Department is slated to inherit foreign-language education partnerships and will play a greater role in administering the Fulbright-Hays grant.