The U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education have announced new steps to integrate federal workforce development programs. The agencies are launching an integrated state plan portal, which is intended to streamline the administration of core Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs, including adult education and family literacy initiatives.
As part of this effort, the Department of Education will transfer program funds and detail staff to the Department of Labor to support these programs. This move positions the Labor Department as a central hub for federal workforce programs, following a joint workforce development agreement between the two agencies.
“To prepare our next generation of American workers, the Trump Administration is taking decisive action to streamline unnecessary bureaucracy and advance the skills needed to fill jobs of the future,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.“The Department of Labor has an exciting and important role to play here, and I’m honored to team up with Secretary McMahon and our state partners to better connect workers with the training they need to find in-demand, mortgage-paying jobs.”
“The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring that all Americans are prepared for a fulfilling and meaningful career. I am confident that the Department of Labor is well positioned to cooperatively administer, implement, and streamline these critical career and adult education programs,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Thanks to our workforce development partnership, states will now be able to more easily and efficiently administer their programs. I am proud to work alongside Secretary Chavez-DeRemer as we continue to implement commonsense reforms that will better serve students, families, and states.”
Earlier this year on May 21, both departments signed an Interagency Agreement allowing them to share resources and collaborate on service delivery for workforce development initiatives. Under this agreement, the Labor Department will handle day-to-day administrative services for Education’s career and technical education (CTE) programs funded by both the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act as well as WIOA Title II programs. The Department of Education retains policymaking authority and oversight responsibilities.
Administering Perkins along with WIOA Titles I through III under this partnership aims at providing streamlined services for states and grantees. The new integrated state plan portal serves as a content management system for creating, reviewing, and managing state plans required under WIOA; these plans are submitted every four years with modifications every two years.
Additionally, adult education and CTE grantees will transition into using the Labor Department’s Payment Management System in order to align grants management processes across both departments’ education- and workforce-related funding streams.
These changes follow President Trump’s Executive Order focused on preparing Americans for skilled trade jobs expected in future labor markets.
Both departments stated they would continue providing guidance during implementation stages. State partners or grantees seeking immediate assistance are encouraged to contact their respective points within either department’s Employment & Training Administration or Office of Career, Technical & Adult Education.
