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 unexpected hurdles, raising questions about whether broader plans to overhaul the agency can still move forward. Early missteps in the process—including internal resistance and procedural delays—could weaken the momentum behind a more sweeping reorganization effort. Meanwhile, the Labor Department has been drawn into the debate, adding another layer of complexity to the administration’s education agenda. Critics warn that the setbacks may expose deeper challenges in executing major bureaucratic changes.

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 ...