The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor announced on Mar. 17 the launch of the Fiscal Year 2026 competition for the Talent Search Program, a grant designed to help students access high-quality postsecondary education or training, including Registered Apprenticeships. The awards will be managed through the Department of Labor’s GrantSolutions platform as part of an effort to better align federal postsecondary and workforce education programs.
This initiative marks the beginning of the Education Department’s 2026 grant competitions for Federal TRIO Programs, with more competitions expected later in the spring and summer. The announcement follows recent staff collaboration between the two agencies aimed at improving coordination of federal postsecondary and workforce education efforts.
“As the nation faces a shortage of more than 700,000 skilled workers, the Trump Administration is transforming the Federal government’s approach to workforce development,” said Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Dr. David Barker. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Labor to streamline postsecondary and workforce education programs to better serve students, institutions of higher education, and grantees.”
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Dr. Henry Mack said, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Departments of Labor and Education are breaking up the Federal education bureaucracy to deliver critical funding more effectively and efficiently—connecting more Americans with a quality postsecondary education that leads to high-wage careers. We are committed to ensuring every American has access to the tools and training they need to succeed in today's economy. This investment reflects President Trump's vision of a workforce built for the Golden Age of America.”
In November 2025, six new Interagency Agreements were announced by the Education Department with four agencies as part of efforts to reduce bureaucracy in federal education programs and move toward returning control over education matters to states. The partnership between Education and Labor uses such agreements as a tool for sharing resources, managing grants, providing technical assistance, and integrating postsecondary programs under existing legal frameworks.
Officials from both departments said they will continue offering guidance as these changes are implemented.
