HR 10232: To prohibit the transfer of certain offices and functions of the Department of Education to other Federal agencies, and for other purposes.
HR 10232 in plain English: This bill would prohibit the Department of Education from transferring the functions of four specific offices—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Postsecondary Education, Indian Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education—to other federal agencies through interagency agreements. It also requires the Department to regularly report to Congress on any interagency agreements made on or after February 1, 2025, and blocks the use of FY2026 and FY2027 travel funds if those reports are not provided. As of July 30, 2026, the Department had already entered into 14 such interagency agreements.
Stated purpose
This bill aims to stop the Department of Education from transferring the functions of four specific offices to other federal agencies, and to require public reporting on any interagency agreements already made since February 1, 2025.
Key points
- Bars the Department of Education from transferring four named offices' functions to other federal agencies via interagency agreements.
- Covers functions such as administering programs, making grants, technical assistance, enforcement, and monitoring grantees.
- Requires reports and cost analyses to Congress within two weeks of enactment and quarterly thereafter.
- Blocks FY2026 and FY2027 travel funds if required reports are not submitted.
- Does not apply to interagency agreements already in effect on February 1, 2025, or renewals with substantially similar terms.
Arguments supporters make
- Moving these offices' functions to other agencies could disrupt services for vulnerable groups like students with disabilities and Native American students who depend on consistent, specialized oversight.
- Requiring detailed cost reports gives Congress and the public real information to evaluate whether any transfers save money or create new expenses.
- Keeping these education functions inside the Department of Education preserves the specialized expertise and legal accountability built into the agency's founding laws.
Arguments opponents make
- Transferring certain administrative functions to other agencies could reduce bureaucracy and cut costs, and this bill blocks even efficient reorganizations before they can be evaluated.
- The bill's blanket prohibition limits the executive branch's flexibility to manage federal programs and could prevent coordination that genuinely benefits students.
- Agreements already in place since February 2025 are exempted, meaning the bill may lock in some transfers while only stopping future ones, creating an uneven result.
Tradeoffs
Blocking transfers protects continuity and specialized oversight for affected student populations, but it also limits the executive branch's ability to reorganize or streamline federal education administration. The bill prioritizes stability and congressional oversight over operational flexibility.
Current status in Congress: In committee.
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