This bill aims to prevent the transfer of core functions from specific offices within the Department of Education to other federal agencies, thereby safeguarding their operational integrity. It explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education from entering into new agreements or implementing certain existing arrangements that would shift responsibilities like program administration, grant awards, technical assistance, and oversight related to these offices. The legislation specifically protects the functions of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services , the Office of Postsecondary Education , the Office of Indian Education , and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education . Furthermore, the bill prevents the Department from transferring a function from one of these protected offices to another internal Department office, and then subsequently engaging another federal agency for that function, ensuring these responsibilities remain within their designated structures. An important exception is made for any existing arrangements between the Department of Education and other federal agencies that were already in effect on February 1, 2025 . Renewals of such procurements, contracts, or agreements are also permitted, provided their terms remain substantially similar. This bill ultimately seeks to maintain the current structure and operational control of these vital education programs within the Department of Education.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 541.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 541.
Education
Congressional oversightDepartment of EducationEducation programs fundingExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archives
A bill to prohibit the transfer of certain offices and functions of the Department of Education to other Federal agencies, and for other purposes.
USA119th CongressS-5046| Senate
| Updated: 8/4/2026
This bill aims to prevent the transfer of core functions from specific offices within the Department of Education to other federal agencies, thereby safeguarding their operational integrity. It explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education from entering into new agreements or implementing certain existing arrangements that would shift responsibilities like program administration, grant awards, technical assistance, and oversight related to these offices. The legislation specifically protects the functions of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services , the Office of Postsecondary Education , the Office of Indian Education , and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education . Furthermore, the bill prevents the Department from transferring a function from one of these protected offices to another internal Department office, and then subsequently engaging another federal agency for that function, ensuring these responsibilities remain within their designated structures. An important exception is made for any existing arrangements between the Department of Education and other federal agencies that were already in effect on February 1, 2025 . Renewals of such procurements, contracts, or agreements are also permitted, provided their terms remain substantially similar. This bill ultimately seeks to maintain the current structure and operational control of these vital education programs within the Department of Education.