President Donald Trump signed a consolidated appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Department of Education at roughly $79 billion for fiscal 2026. The measure passed the House 217–214 after months of uncertainty and briefly paused agency operations when a continuing resolution lapsed. The law preserves year‑over‑year funding for core K–12 formulas including Title I and IDEA, while directing agencies to report biweekly on any interagency transfers of statutory responsibilities. Lawmakers wrote specific guardrails into the package: on‑time formula grant payments to states, requirements that Education maintain sufficient staff levels to meet statutory duties, and extra reporting on interagency agreements the department pursues. National principals’ groups said the bill prevented cuts to mental‑health and special‑education supports. The bill does not, however, curtail the administration’s authority to propose or pilot shifting program responsibilities among federal agencies—an issue Congress asked to be kept under closer oversight.