U.S. Representative Burgess Owens, R-UT, introduced the Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act on July 9, 2026, as part of a broader legislative effort to overhaul federal education administration. The bill, designated H.R. 9604, is one of ten pieces of legislation designed to reduce the size of the Department of Education and shift statutory authorities to agencies better equipped for implementation.
A Ten-Bill Legislative Package
The bill was officially referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce following its introduction in the House on July 9, 2026. According to records from Congress.gov, the legislation is part of the 119th Congress.
Reducing Federal Bureaucracy
The legislative package, titled "Less Bureaucracy, Better Education," was announced on July 9, 2026, by House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-MI. The initiative represents a coordinated effort to codify the Trump administration's strategy to "right-size" the Department of Education.
According to a press release from the House Committee on Education and Workforce, the package aims to ensure that students, families, educators, and taxpayers are served by a government focused on results rather than bureaucratic growth. Chairman Walberg stated that for decades, Washington has prioritized the expansion of government over student success, and argued that education policy should focus on helping students succeed instead of preserving federal bureaucracy.
Scope of the Legislation
The proposed bills seek to transfer key statutory authorities from the Department of Education to other agencies that the committee believes are better positioned to carry out those responsibilities. The House Committee on Education and Workforce stated that this modernization effort is intended to streamline administration and reduce unnecessary layers of government between families and essential services.
Chairman Walberg noted that the package reflects a principle of moving away from preserving federal bureaucracy for its enough sake, emphasizing that the bills are designed to maintain continuity for students and stakeholders while reducing the federal footprint.
Additional Legislative Components
The legislative package includes several distinct bills introduced by various members of Congress. In addition to Rep. Owens' tribal education bill, Chairman Walberg introduced H.R. 9607, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Workforce Development Act, and H.R. 9609, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Student Aid Act.
Other components of the package include H.R. 9610 and H.R. 9611, both introduced by Rep. Mark Harris, R-NC, which focus on K-12 education and higher education respectively. The initiative also features H.R. 9605, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Medical Accreditation Act, introduced by Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-WI; H.R. 9606, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Child Care for Student Parents Act, introduced by Rep. Bob Onder, R-MO; and H.R. 9603, the Less Bureaucracy, Better International Education Oversight Act, introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC.
Focus on Accountability
The package further addresses transparency and engagement through several other bills. These include H.R. 9602, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Gift Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-WA; H.R. 9608, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Family Engagement Act, introduced by Rep. Mary Miller, R-IL; and H.R. 9605, the Less Bureaucracy, Better Foreign Medical Accreditation Act.
The House Committee on Education and Workforce characterized these bills as the first legislative step toward modernizing federal education law. The committee stated that the primary goal is to ensure federal responsibilities are carried out by agencies best positioned to administer them while keeping the focus on students, families, and taxpayers.
Current Legislative Status
As of July 12, 2026, H.R. 9604 remains under review by the House Committee on Education and Workforce following its recent introduction. The committee has not yet announced a timeline for further hearings or votes on the individual components of the legislative package.
