Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act
Sponsored By: Representative Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
In Committee
Summary
Consolidates tribal education and job‑training programs under the Department of the Interior. This bill would transfer a broad suite of programs, authorities, assets, and staff from the Department of Education to the Department of the Interior and set rules for a staged transition and tribal consultation.
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- Tribes and students: Administration of many programs that serve American Indian and Alaska Native students would move to Interior, while the bill aims to preserve existing funding streams and program purposes.
- Federal workers and agencies: The bill would transfer appropriations, contracts, records, property, and liabilities to Interior and allow Interior to use Education Department personnel during a transition. The Office of Management and Budget must ensure no net increase in federal full‑time equivalent (FTE) employees.
- Continuity and oversight: Existing suits, orders, and administrative rights tied to the transferred functions would continue. The bill requires consultation with Indian Tribes within six months and makes the main transfers effective one year after Education publishes its written consultation response.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
How programs, staff, and funds move
If enacted, personnel, contracts, records, and unspent funds tied to transferred functions would move from the Education Department to the Department of the Interior. Any unexpended money transferred would have to be used only for the purpose it was originally authorized. Existing grants, orders, payments, and lawsuits would continue, with Interior substituted for Education when needed. The Interior Secretary would get and may delegate Education's legal authorities for those functions. The Office of Management and Budget would have to make sure total federal full-time employees do not increase and must report compliance to Congress. For transition, Interior could use Education staff and resources beginning at enactment to help implement the transfers.
Interior would run tribal education programs
If enacted, the Department of the Interior would take over many tribal education and job-training programs now run by the Department of Education. The transfer would generally happen one year after the Education Secretary publishes the required written tribal consultation response. The bill would also repeal Parts J and Z of the Higher Education Act, removing those specific statutory authorities. Eligibility rules and funding streams would not automatically change because of the transfer.
Tribal consultation and transfer scope
If enacted, the Education Secretary would have to consult with Indian Tribes within six months of enactment and publish a written response on the Department website. The bill would define the word 'function' broadly to include duties, powers, responsibilities, programs, and similar items for the purposes of transfers. The definition and many transfers would take effect one year after the required written tribal consultation response is published.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov