Less Bureaucracy, Better K–12 Education Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9610
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T10:23:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9610: Less Bureaucracy, Better K-12 Education Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to transfer responsibility for managing certain elementary and secondary education programs from the Secretary of Education to the Secretary of Labor.
Key Provisions
- Transfer of Functions: All functions related to 25 specified programs are moved to the Department of Labor, including:
- Title I programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), such as grants for disadvantaged students, state assessments, migratory children, and neglected or at-risk youth.
- Title II programs for teacher and school leader support, including state grants, incentive programs, literacy development, American history and civics, and educator development.
- Title III English language acquisition grants (with some exceptions).
- Title IV programs for student support, after-school centers, charter schools, magnet schools, arts education, and rural school aid.
- Title VII Impact Aid.
- Related programs from the Higher Education Act, District of Columbia scholarships, homeless youth education, insular areas grants, and certain community projects.
- Exercise of Authorities: The Secretary of Labor gains all prior legal powers held by the Secretary of Education for these functions.
- Personnel and Funding Transfers: Employees, assets, contracts, records, and unspent funds move to the Department of Labor, with limits on their use.
- Oversight by Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Ensures no net increase in federal full-time employees; OMB resolves any disputes on transferred functions and certifies compliance.
- Delegation and References: The Secretary of Labor may assign tasks within the department; legal references to the Department of Education and its officials are updated to refer to the Department of Labor and its Education Employment and Training Administration.
- Savings and Transition Rules: Existing legal documents, ongoing proceedings, and lawsuits continue without interruption; the Secretary of Labor may use Department of Education resources temporarily during implementation.
- Effective Date: The Act takes effect six months after enactment, with early transfers allowed starting on the enactment date.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Shifts administration of listed ESEA and related programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.
- Creates new internal structures within the Department of Labor to handle these education functions.
- Updates all federal references, rules, and documents to reflect the transfer.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Reorganizes responsibilities between the Departments of Education and Labor; requires coordination to avoid duplicative staffing.
- Citizens: May affect how states and schools receive and use federal education funding, potentially altering program oversight and delivery for K-12 students, teachers, and families.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies: Department of Education (losing functions) and Department of Labor (gaining them).
- State and local education agencies, schools, and grant recipients.
- Students, teachers, and education service providers involved in the transferred programs.
- Congress, through required reporting and oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Represents a significant executive branch reorganization through statute, with detailed savings clauses to preserve ongoing legal and administrative continuity.
- Includes mechanisms to limit federal workforce growth, emphasizing efficiency in implementation.
- Raises questions about the alignment of labor policy expertise with education program management, though the bill does not address constitutional authority for such transfers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Less Bureaucracy, Better K–12 Education Act — issued 2026-07-09 — PDF (13 pages)