Today, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) announced a new workforce development partnership aimed at creating an integrated federal education and workforce system. The Department of Labor will now have a greater role in managing adult education and family literacy programs under Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), as well as career and technical education (CTE) programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V). These programs will be managed alongside ED staff, with continued leadership and oversight by the Department of Education.
This partnership represents a significant shift in how select ED programs are managed by partner agencies.
“The current structure with various federal agencies each managing pieces of the federal workforce portfolio is inefficient and duplicative. Support from the Department of Labor in administering the Department of Education’s workforce programs is a commonsense step in streamlining these programs to better serve students, families, and educators,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “I look forward to collaborating with Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to create a stronger talent pipeline for our nation’s workforce.”
“Our bloated federal bureaucracy has made it increasingly difficult to administer workforce development programs effectively, and our students and workers have been left behind as a result. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restructuring to meet the needs of our workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “I’m excited to team up with Secretary McMahon as we work together to provide states with clearer guidance, reduced regulatory burdens, and more resources that are directly invested in opportunities for American workers.”
The agreement between ED and DOL was formalized on May 21 through an Interagency Agreement (IAA). However, its implementation faced legal challenges when a Massachusetts District Judge granted a preliminary injunction in McMahon v. New York. This injunction was paused by an emergency request granted by the Supreme Court yesterday, allowing ED to proceed with implementing this IAA.
Under this partnership facilitated by an IAA—a tool used by government agencies for resource sharing—DOL will manage day-to-day administration of ED's Perkins V and WIOA Title II programs alongside other workforce initiatives already under its purview. This arrangement aims to streamline services for states by providing unified state plan portals and consistent timelines for required submissions.
The collaboration aligns with Executive Order No. 14278 signed on April 23, 2025, which calls for coordinated federal education and workforce systems.
Currently overseeing most federally funded workforce programs, DOL's increased involvement will offer states central points of contact within the federal government while reducing duplication efforts across different agencies—ensuring more funds are allocated towards training rather than bureaucracy or compliance costs.
In coming weeks both departments plan on issuing additional guidance regarding these changes; state partners should direct immediate program questions either towards their respective DOL Employment & Training Administration contacts or those at ED Office Career Technical Adult Education offices.
