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HR 9611

Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mark Harris

Transfers administration of many higher education programs from Education to Labor to streamline and centralize oversight while preserving program goals.

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
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Bill Summary · HR 9611

Overview

Less Bureaucracy, Better Higher Education Act (HR 9611, 119th Congress) seeks to streamline administration of certain federal higher education programs by transferring core functions from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, and by repealing several related programs. The bill establishes a framework for transfer, funding, personnel, and governance to reduce duplication and improve efficiency in administering higher education initiatives that support minority-serving institutions, students with disabilities, veterans, and other historically underserved groups.

Main purpose and intent

  • Reduce Bureaucracy: Move specific postsecondary education program responsibilities from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor.
  • Improve Efficiency: Centralize administration of targeted higher education programs under one department’s employment- and training-focused mandate.
  • Preserve Existing Activities: Maintain current program objectives and beneficiaries, but under new administrative leadership.

Key provisions and changes

  • Transfer of Functions (Section 2): Transfers a broad list of programs from Education to Labor, including but not limited to:
    • Hawkins Center of Excellence; Strengthening Institutions (Title III, certain sections); HBCU-related programs; Minority Science and Engineering; Hispanic-serving institutions STEM and articulation; Federal TRIO Programs; GEAR UP; migrant and seasonal farmworker programs; vocational and transition initiatives for veterans; graduate and outreach programs; and several other title VII and VIII programs.
    • Also transfers functions related to the relationship between Education and Howard University and congressionally funded community projects overseen by the Office of Postsecondary Education.
  • Repeals (Section 2, Subsection b): Repeals several Education programs, notably:
    • Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program; Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships; College Access Challenge Grant; Project Grad.
  • Transfer Mechanics (Sections 3–7):
    • Allows the Secretary of Labor to exercise authorities to perform transferred functions.
    • Transfers appropriations, personnel, contracts, records, and property; restricts use of unexpended funds to original purposes.
    • Enables delegation within the Department of Labor, while preserving overall responsibility.
    • References to other federal documents are updated to reflect the new administrative home (Labor rather than Education).
  • Safeguards and Transitions (Sections 5, 8–10):
    • Office of Management and Budget oversight to avoid net increases in federal FTEs.
    • Savings provisions ensure ongoing validity of affected legal documents and pending proceedings.
    • Transitional use of Education personnel, assets, and funds to support orderly implementation.
  • Effective Date and Transition (Section 11):
    • General effective date 6 months after enactment, with early transfers permitted starting on enactment date but no later than the effective date.

Who would be affected

  • Federal agencies and offices currently administering the listed higher education programs (Education) would shift to the Department of Labor.
  • Eligible institutions and program beneficiaries (e.g., HBCUs, HSIs, TRIO participants, veterans, students with disabilities, minority-serving STEM initiatives) would continue to be served, but under the new administrator.
  • Federal personnel, contracts, and funding streams tied to the transferred programs would undergo reallocation and redelegation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and committee path in July 2026; amended and reported by the House Education and Workforce Committee (July 15, 2026).
  • Core transition would begin upon enactment, with full effect 6 months after enactment, though early transfer is permitted for sections 2 and other provisions.
  • Requires OMB certification of compliance and intergovernmental coordination to ensure no net increases in federal staffing.

This summary provides an objective, nonpartisan view of the bill’s substantive elements, focusing on what changes would occur, who would be affected, and the key timelines involved.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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