The White House announced plans Thursday morning to combine the federal education and labor departments, creating a Department of Education and the Workforce.
Although no specific details were provided regarding the proposed merger, which would need Congressional approval, it is part of the Trump administration’s larger goal of reorganizing the federal government in hopes of reducing its massive size and increasing efficiency.
Some academics described potential positive and negative implications for higher education, adding that the announcement was not a surprise.
“Trump has had a consistent message about limiting the size of government, and this is consistent with what he has announced he would like to accomplish,” said Dr. Beth Stroble, president of Webster University. “There’s a lot to be considered here.”
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released a statement shortly after the announcement, urging Congress to work with the president to make the proposal a reality and noting that Trump “campaigned and won with his promise to reduce the federal footprint in education and to make the federal government more efficient and effective.”
“Today’s bold reform proposal takes a big step toward fulfilling that promise,” she said. “Artificial barriers between education and workforce programs have existed for far too long. We must reform our 20th century federal agencies to meet the challenges of the 21st century. This proposal will make the federal government more responsive to the full range of needs faced by American students, workers, and schools.”
Stroble noted that many institutions of higher learning already grasp the importance of connecting college and the workplace. Internships, career-placement services and other career-planning and workforce-development efforts are geared to meet employer needs and demands, she said.
