Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act

Full Title:
Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act

Summary#

This Act transfers many postsecondary education programs and related functions from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor. It lists specific programs and authorities that move to the Secretary of Labor (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training). The Act also repeals four named Higher Education Act programs. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must ensure the transfer does not increase net full-time equivalent employees and may make determinations about transferred functions. The Act requires that assets, personnel, contracts, records, and unexpended funds related to the transferred functions move to the Department of Labor, and that unspent funds be used for their original purposes. Existing orders, grants, permits, and legal proceedings related to transferred functions continue in effect and may be continued or modified as allowed by law. The default effective date is six months after enactment, but transfers may begin earlier.

What it means for you#

  • Programs named in the Act (for example, TRIO programs, certain HBCU and Hispanic-serving institution programs, technical assistance centers, and other listed postsecondary programs) will be managed by the Department of Labor instead of the Department of Education.
  • References in federal law and documents to the Secretary or Department of Education for those functions will be treated as references to the Secretary or Department of Labor.
  • Ongoing applications, grants, contracts, and court cases connected to transferred programs continue without interruption under the new department, subject to normal legal processes.
  • The Department of Labor may use Department of Education staff, assets, and funds during the transition period to carry out these functions.

Expenses#

The Act directs that personnel, assets, liabilities, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances tied to transferred functions be moved to the Department of Labor. It requires OMB to ensure there is no net increase in full-time equivalent employees because of the transfers. No publicly available information on the net fiscal cost or savings of the transfers is provided in the text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.