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 the feasibility of broader reforms. Early setbacks in the department’s reorganization efforts could weaken the momentum behind a more sweeping overhaul. Officials are now weighing whether the challenges will derail plans to reshape the agency’s operations. The outcome may hinge on whether the administration can overcome resistance and logistical obstacles.

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 ...