Congressional appropriations bills signed in early February preserved funding for many U.S. Department of Education programs despite White House moves to curtail the agency. Lawmakers retained support for special education and after‑school programs and rejected proposed deep cuts that would have dismantled longstanding federal initiatives. Still, the Biden‑to‑Trump policy pivot has left the department's agenda contested: the administration has pushed to devolve authority to states and roll back prior regulations. Observers say congressional votes preserve programs for now, but ongoing executive actions and political pressure mean institutions should plan for regulatory turbulence ahead of the midterm elections.