Third Way Statement on House Republicans’ Plan to Reorganize the Department of Education
WASHINGTON—Third Way released the following statement from Michelle Dimino, Director of Education:
“As the House Committee on Education and the Workforce marks up the “Less Bureaucracy, Better Education” legislative package today, lawmakers should recognize that these bills do neither. Rather than reducing bureaucracy or improving education, they would codify the Trump Administration’s interagency agreements to move education programs and services across the federal government—creating a more fragmented and confusing system for students, families, and schools.
“Reorganization is not reform. If Congress wants to modernize how the Department of Education works, it should make changes designed to solve specific problems, improve the delivery of services to students and schools, and hold institutions accountable, not just shuffle responsibilities to other agencies.
“The current interagency agreements have led to funding delays for districts, leaving school leaders uncertain at a time when they need stability. Separating K-12 program administration and personnel would add more layers of complexity for states and school districts, not less.
“Likewise, higher education is in a period of transition, as borrowers and institutions adapt to sweeping changes in federal financial aid and student loan policy. Uprooting the student loan portfolio would create additional confusion in a moment when borrowers need clear guidance on repayment and colleges need certainty about implementation.
“Students, families, institutions, and taxpayers deserve a federal education system that is effective, easy to navigate, and focused on improving outcomes. Lawmakers should take the time to determine which organizational changes to the Department of Education would truly move the needle in addressing these challenges—not treat what they’ve been handed by the Trump Administration as the only blueprint for modernization.”