The Education Department gave another agency power to distribute its money. It hasn't gone well.

A controversial push to restructure the Education Department under the Trump administration has faced significant hurdles, raising concerns that its failure could weaken broader efforts to overhaul the agency. While the initial attempt to reorganize key functions—including shifting oversight of student loans and workforce training to other departments—struggled to gain traction, critics argue the setback may delay or dilute more sweeping reforms. The Labor Department’s involvement in the process highlights the complex political and bureaucratic challenges ahead for any major restructuring. Supporters of the plan insist it would streamline federal education programs, but opponents warn it could disrupt critical services for millions of students and workers.

The stumbles of an early Trump administration experiment to carve up the Education Department risks undercutting the president’s more dramatic demolition plan for the agency. The Labor Department ...