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 setbacks, raising questions about the feasibility of broader reforms. Early efforts to reorganize federal education programs have encountered resistance and operational hurdles, potentially weakening the momentum behind more sweeping changes. Critics argue the missteps could delay or dilute the administration’s agenda to reshape the agency’s role in K-12 and higher education policy. The outcome may hinge on whether officials can overcome bureaucratic and political obstacles before moving forward.

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 ...