Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday during a hearing regarding his nomination to lead the Department of Labor (DOL). During the session, Sonderling defended the use of interagency agreements (IAAs) that shift administrative functions from the Department of Education to the DOL as part of the Trump administration’s plan to reorganize federal agencies.
Democratic senators questioned the efficiency of the transfers, arguing that moving education programs to an agency focused on labor could complicate service delivery for schools and students. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) stated that the DOL lacks the expertise to manage programs for elementary students. In response, Sonderling characterized the DOL's role as providing "consulting" and administrative services rather than set policy, noting that career experts from the Education Department continue to manage the programs.
Sonderling, who has served as acting secretary since April, emphasized that the reorganization aims to improve government efficiency. The hearing followed a recent move by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to advance 10 bills that would permanently transfer several Education Department functions to other federal agencies. The Senate committee is scheduled to vote on Sonderling’s nomination on July 23.