House Committee Advances Legislation to Dismantle ED
Last week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved a package of 10 bills intended to codify the Trump administration’s efforts to move administration and oversight for several programs from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to other federal agencies through Interagency Agreements (IAAs). As previously reported, the package includes the “Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act” (HR 9607), which aims to permanently transfer the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE), including administration of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V) and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) argued at the outset of the markup that these bills were necessary because ED has failed to improve outcomes for students across a range of measures stating, in part, “…at the postsecondary level, 40 percent of students fail to graduate within six years…” and that “…85 percent of recent graduates [say] they wish their college had better prepared them for the workforce.” The Chair later framed the wider legislative package as a “first step” towards ending ED.
Yet, ED has overseen Perkins V for roughly four decades. During this time, programs receiving this critical federal investment in Career Technical Education (CTE) have consistently delivered strong results for learners at both the secondary and postsecondary level, with students and families reporting increased satisfaction and preparation for work and life. It therefore remains unclear how a rearrangement of federal administration of CTE programs, as envisioned by this legislation, will improve upon these longstanding results and reduce related administrative burden on states tasked with implementing Perkins V. Advance CTE and partners raised these and other significant concerns when the IAA impacting state CTE systems was first revealed as part of a court filing last summer.
Following the Committee’s consideration of the legislation, which was advanced along party lines, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon released a statement in support of the legislation. The bills will now await further consideration by the full House, but it remains unclear when this will occur given the limited number of legislative days left on the congressional calendar before the midterm elections.
Advance CTE is closely monitoring these and other related developments impacting state administration of Perkins V and will continue to advocate for policies that reduce, rather than complicate and increase, states’ ability to implement high-quality CTE programs in their communities.
ED Rescinds Methods of Administration Regulations
This week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) formally rescinded Methods of Administration (MOA) regulations stemming from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These regulations were last updated under the first Trump administration in 2020, which updated related state procedures for implementing these requirements. Notably, this regulatory action does not reference the statutory data reporting and use requirements contained in Perkins V. States should continue to meet all Perkins V data collection, reporting, and accountability requirements, including disaggregating data and using that data to inform state and local work, such as through the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA). Advance CTE is monitoring this issue closely and will continue to collect feedback from states on this regulatory change.
Congress Appropriations Timeline Gets Tighter
Little additional progress has been made in recent weeks regarding federal fiscal year (FY) 2027 appropriations, a process that should normally be completed by October 1 each year. Most recently, House lawmakers have refocused their attention on passing a potential third budget reconciliation bill to provide $95 billion in additional funding for defense and agricultural priorities. This effort is likely to shift attention and focus away from the regular FY27 appropriations process. In anticipation, House lawmakers also released a proposed continuing resolution (CR) in recent days that would extend current funding levels, including for Perkins V, through early December.
In the Senate, the sudden death of Senate Committee on Appropriations member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and the extended absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have created additional delays for the upper chamber. As previously reported, the Senate appropriations process made little progress this year amid ongoing disagreements over FY27 funding levels, with much of the debate focused on parity between defense and non-defense discretionary topline investments.
ACTION ALERT: Ask your member of Congress to support Education and Workforce Funding in FY27.
With many bills still pending, Advance CTE will continue to monitor the status of FY27 appropriations and advocate for stronger federal investments in Career Technical Education (CTE). As previously reported, the House education and workforce appropriations bill advanced out of committee, but has not yet received a floor vote, while the Senate has not yet scheduled a subcommittee markup. With the House beginning recess on July 23 and the Senate on August 7, lawmakers face a compressed timeline to complete FY27 funding bills before the September 30 fiscal year-end deadline.
House Committee Considers Education and Workforce Proposals
On July 21, the House Education and Workforce Committee marked up and advanced 10 education and workforce bills, including two of note for CTE. The K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act (H.R. 8747), sponsored by Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), passed along party lines (18-15) and would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to explicitly allow Title IV-A funds to support AI literacy instruction and related educator professional development. The Modernizing Access to Talents, Careers, and Hiring (MATCH) Act (H.R. 8183), introduced by Reps. Burgess Owens (R-UT) and Lucy McBath (D-GA), would help states build talent marketplaces connecting workers to jobs, credentials, and training. Both bills now head to the full House for further consideration. Learn more
ED Releases Regulatory Agenda
Two weeks ago, the Department of Education published the latest Agency Rule List that outlines the agency’s planned rulemaking activities over the coming months. Among the items included are proposed regulations on accreditation, revisions to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, and ESEA Title IV eligibility. The agenda provides an early look at the administration’s regulatory priorities, but does not establish final timelines for rulemaking. View the full list
Advance CTE and ACTE Submit Comments on Uniform Grant Guidance
Last week, Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) submitted joint comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to the proposed revisions to the Uniform Grant Guidance (UGG). The comments emphasize the importance of maintaining flexibility for state and local grant recipients while preserving strong accountability measures and reducing unnecessary administrative burden for federally funded education and workforce programs. Read the comments
Senate HELP Committee Advances Labor Secretary Nomination
Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing for Keith Sonderling, the administration’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Labor. Read remarks from the hearing
Committee leadership initially announced that the nomination was scheduled for a vote by the committee on Thursday, July 23. However, the HELP Committee is now slated to further consider his nomination next week alongside a wider markup on several other pieces of legislation with education and workforce development implications. If approved by the committee, Sonderling’s nomination will advance to the full Senate for consideration
In related personnel news at DOL, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recommended Henry Mack, the current Assistant Secretary of Labor leading the Employment and Training Administration, to serve as the state’s next education commissioner. Dr. Mack is expected to formally move into this position in the coming weeks.
Department of Labor Announces Apprenticeship Funding
DOL has recently announced a new wave of investments to expand Registered Apprenticeship opportunities, awarding funding to support the development and expansion of apprenticeship programs across high-demand industries. The investments are intended to strengthen workforce pipelines and increase access to earn-and-learn opportunities for workers while helping employers address workforce needs. Read more about the investment
