U.S. – Education, Labor Shift Higher-Ed Grant Operations To DOL Starting Next Week

Washington, D.C. — Federal officials say colleges and nonprofits that run federally funded postsecondary programs should prepare for administrative changes as the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor deepen a partnership aimed at aligning higher education with workforce development.

Starting the week of Jan. 20, staff in the Higher Education Programs division within the Education Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education will be detailed to the Labor Department, the agencies said in a Jan. 15 announcement.

After the staff detail begins, Education Department Higher Education Programs grantees are expected to transition to Labor’s GrantSolutions and Payment Management System, a move intended to align grant management and payments across the departments’ postsecondary and workforce programs. Officials said the approach mirrors steps used in an earlier Workforce Development Partnership rollout.

Education officials framed the shift as part of a broader effort to coordinate federal programs and reduce duplication, while Labor officials said the work is tied to the administration’s workforce strategy and a push for industry-aligned training.

For families, the changes are mostly behind the scenes, but they could affect how quickly schools and community organizations receive federal funds that support student services. Parents and students involved in federally supported college-success initiatives may want to ask their campus or program contact whether any reporting, reimbursement, or scheduling changes are expected during the transition.

The departments said more guidance for grantees is coming as implementation continues. Families can watch for updates from their college program office and from federal announcements in the weeks ahead.

This article was produced by a education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.