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 reforms—including a high-profile proposal to dismantle key parts of the agency—can still gain traction. Early missteps in the process have drawn criticism and resistance, potentially weakening the political momentum behind the administration’s sweeping agenda. Officials now confront the challenge of rebuilding support for a plan that has already sparked debate over its feasibility and impact on federal education programs. The outcome could hinge on whether lawmakers and stakeholders can overcome the setbacks to advance the restructuring effort.

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 ...