The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have announced further steps to integrate postsecondary education with workforce development programs. Starting the week of January 20, 2026, staff from ED’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), specifically from the Higher Education Programs (HEP) Division, will be assigned to work at DOL. This move is part of an ongoing effort by both agencies to better coordinate federal postsecondary education initiatives.
As part of this collaboration, HEP grantees will begin using DOL’s Grant Solutions and Payment Management System for managing grants and payments. This change aims to align administrative processes between ED and DOL’s postsecondary and workforce programs, following a model previously established by the Workforce Development Partnership.
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker stated, “As the American economy continues to create new opportunities, the Trump Administration is realigning postsecondary education to ensure students are prepared for success in the workforce. We are proud to begin implementing this historic partnership that will not only create a better coordinated Federal approach to postsecondary education and workforce development, but will also ensure that students pursuing higher education pursue programs aligned with their career goals and workforce needs.”
Dr. Henry Mack, Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration at DOL, commented on the initiative: “The groundbreaking interagency collaboration between our Departments is anchored in America’s Talent Strategy—streamlining fragmented higher education programs into a unified system that prioritizes industry-driven training, boosts worker mobility, enhances accountability, and unleashes innovation to equip millions of students with the skills needed for economic dominance and personal prosperity. Not only must colleges and universities aim to develop well-rounded individuals, exposed to the first principles of Western Civilization and thrive as productive citizens; higher education must attend to the needs of American employers, graduating students who are career-ready, productive, and equipped to deliver on the President’s reindustrialization agenda.”
In November 2025, ED established six new Interagency Agreements (IAAs) with four other agencies aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy in education programs and moving towards increased state control over educational matters.
The partnership between ED and DOL uses IAAs—a standard government mechanism for sharing resources—to manage grant funds jointly while providing technical assistance. The agreement also seeks to connect existing ED postsecondary initiatives with DOL-managed programs under statutory authority provided by 31 U.S.C. § 1535.
This co-administration arrangement covers programs authorized under the Higher Education Act and intends to streamline federal efforts in postsecondary education while offering additional guidance for grantees during implementation.
