The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to scale back the Department of Education, announcing it will vacate its headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of a broader effort to reduce the agency’s footprint.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Building, long home to the department, will be transferred for use by the Department of Energy. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the move reflects “unprecedented progress” in downsizing the federal education bureaucracy and reallocating space more efficiently.

While the Department of Education, established in 1979, cannot be abolished without congressional approval, the administration has significantly reduced its size. The agency’s workforce has reportedly been cut roughly in half since President Donald Trump took office.

Officials said the headquarters building was operating at about 70 percent vacancy, making the move a cost-saving measure. Relocating to a smaller office space within Washington is expected to save approximately $4.8 million annually, with the transition projected to be completed by August.

The Department of Energy, which will take over the building, is expected to benefit from the newer space, replacing its current headquarters, which officials described as outdated. Administration estimates suggest the shift could generate substantial long-term savings.

Supporters of the move, including House Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, framed it as part of a broader effort to reduce bureaucratic excess and return greater control over education to the states.

Administration officials have pointed to ongoing policy changes aimed at shrinking the federal role in education, arguing that streamlining operations allows for more flexibility at the state level while reducing taxpayer costs.

The move marks another step in the administration’s effort to scale back the department’s scope, even as its full elimination remains subject to congressional approval.