Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act
Sponsored By: Representative Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]
In Committee
Summary
Transfers management of many federal higher-education support programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor. This bill would move oversight of dozens of college access and support programs so Labor, through its Employment and Training Administration, runs them instead of Education.
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- Students and families: Programs that help low-income and first-generation students, like TRIO and GEAR UP, and supports for students with disabilities would be run by the Labor Department, which could change who manages outreach and services.
- Minority-serving institutions and campuses: HBCU programs, Hispanic-serving STEM initiatives, capital financing for HBCUs, and related grants would shift to Labor. The bill would also repeal four programs: the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, the College Access Challenge Grant Program, and the Project Grad program.
- Federal agencies and staff: Personnel, funds, contracts, assets, and records tied to these programs would transfer to Labor, with the Office of Management and Budget required to certify no net increase in federal full-time equivalent employees and allow Education staff and funds to be used to ease the transition.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Repeal of four college programs
If enacted, this bill would repeal four college grant and scholarship programs. The programs are Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, College Access Challenge Grants, and Project Grad. The repeals could be carried out starting on the date of enactment and would take effect no later than six months after enactment. Students, colleges, and state or local agencies that relied on these programs would lose the statutory authority for those grants and scholarships.
Move many college programs to Labor
If enacted, this bill would transfer many postsecondary education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Named programs include TRIO, GEAR UP, HBCU and other minority-serving programs, veteran student centers, programs for students with intellectual disabilities, and several graduate and workforce-focused programs. Personnel, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances would move to Labor but must be used only for their original authorized purposes. The Office of Management and Budget would have to ensure no net increase in federal full-time equivalent employees, and Labor could use Education staff and funds to run an orderly transition.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]
NC • 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.
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