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

An ambitious early effort by the Trump administration to restructure the Education Department by consolidating grant programs has faced significant hurdles, raising concerns about the feasibility of broader reforms. Officials had proposed merging hundreds of competitive grants into a single block grant, but resistance from lawmakers and bureaucratic challenges have stalled the process. Critics argue that the setbacks could weaken the administration’s push to overhaul the department further, potentially leaving key education initiatives in limbo. The outcome may hinge on whether policymakers can navigate political and procedural obstacles to advance the plan.

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 ...