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 questions about whether broader plans to overhaul the agency can still gain traction. Early missteps in the process—including internal resistance and procedural delays—have exposed vulnerabilities in the administration’s approach, potentially weakening its ability to advance more sweeping reforms. Critics argue the setbacks highlight deeper challenges in executing major bureaucratic changes, while supporters maintain the effort remains a priority despite initial obstacles. The outcome could shape the future of federal education policy for years to come.

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 ...