Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
- Committees
- Education and Workforce Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 15, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to consolidate federal career, technical, and adult education programs under the Department of Labor to streamline administration and better align workforce development with labor market needs.
What it actually does
This bill transfers all functions of the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education from the Department of Education to the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration. This includes programs under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (with specific exclusions), Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and various adult literacy and workforce preparation initiatives.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that consolidating these programs under the Department of Labor will reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, eliminate duplication of efforts, and create a more cohesive and responsive federal approach to workforce development that is directly tied to economic demands and job creation.
Opponents contend
Opponents might contend that moving adult education and technical training away from the Department of Education could diminish the focus on foundational educational outcomes, disrupt established state and local educational partnerships, and potentially lead to a narrower, job-specific approach that overlooks broader academic and social benefits of education.
The bill is concise and clearly written, allowing for a quick and straightforward understanding of its core purpose and mechanisms.
Section 2
Transfer of Career, Technical, and Adult Education Functions to Department of Labor
This section is the core of the bill, mandating the transfer of all functions related to career, technical, and adult education from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor. Specifically, it moves programs under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (excluding sections 116 and 117), Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and other initiatives aimed at adult literacy, employment skills, and transition to postsecondary education.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue this transfer will streamline federal workforce development efforts, better align training programs with current labor market demands, and reduce administrative redundancies by placing all related functions under a single department focused on employment.
Critics contend
Critics may argue that moving these functions from the Department of Education could diminish the focus on the educational and academic aspects of career and technical training and adult literacy, potentially leading to a narrower, job-specific approach that overlooks broader educational attainment.
Tradeoffs
The bill navigates the tension between administrative efficiency and responsiveness to labor market needs versus maintaining a distinct educational focus and established pedagogical approaches for adult learners and technical education.
Section 3
Exercise of Authorities by the Secretary of Labor
This section ensures that the Secretary of Labor will have all the same legal authorities that the Secretary of Education previously held for the transferred functions. This means that the Department of Labor can continue to operate and manage these programs without interruption, using the existing legal frameworks.
Section 4
Transfer and Allocations of Appropriations and Personnel
This section mandates the transfer of all resources associated with the functions being moved. This includes personnel, physical assets, liabilities, existing contracts, records, and any unspent funds. It also specifies that these transferred funds must continue to be used for their original authorized and appropriated purposes.
Section 5
Office of Management and Budget Oversight of Transfer
This section grants the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) significant authority over the transfer process. OMB is tasked with ensuring that the transfer does not result in a net increase of full-time equivalent federal employees across the affected agencies. OMB can also make necessary determinations regarding the functions transferred, manage incidental transfers of resources, and is required to certify compliance with the Act to Congress upon its effective date.
The bill explicitly excludes sections 116 and 117 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 from the transfer to the Department of Labor. These sections pertain to 'State and Local Accountability' and 'National Activities,' which include data collection, performance indicators, and national research related to career and technical education.
Section 2(1)
Why it matters:This carve-out could be a deliberate decision to maintain certain data collection, research, or accountability functions within the Department of Education, possibly due to existing expertise, infrastructure, or a desire to keep some educational oversight separate from direct workforce program administration. It might also represent a compromise during the bill's drafting.
Case for: Maintaining these specific accountability and national activity functions within the Department of Education could ensure continuity of established data systems, research efforts, and educational performance metrics, preventing disruption to long-standing data collection and analysis vital for policymakers and educators.
Case against: Separating accountability and national activities from the main program administration could create fragmented oversight and potentially reduce the effectiveness of the Department of Labor's management of the Perkins Act, making it harder to link program implementation directly to outcomes and research.
Estimated impact: Potentially significant for the future of data-driven policy, research, and accountability frameworks for career and technical education, as these functions would remain under the Department of Education.