On Friday morning, a group of House Democrats attempted to enter the Department of Education building in Washington, D.C., seeking a meeting with acting Education Secretary Denise L. Carter.
However, they were stopped by security, sparking a heated exchange between lawmakers and the lone guard barring their entry.
One of the lawmakers, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), questioned the security officer on whether he was acting on orders or making the decision himself. The guard, who identified himself as a federal employee, responded that he was simply doing his job but did not provide further details.
JUST IN: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) is currently questioning federal employees outside the U.S. Department of Education.pic.twitter.com/LH1aFZx0cK
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) February 7, 2025
As tensions rose, the lawmakers insisted they had the right to enter and accused the Trump administration of a “lack of transparency.” The confrontation highlighted growing frustration among Democrats over the administration’s push to shrink, and potentially eliminate, the Department of Education.
President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have long advocated for shutting down the Department of Education, arguing that individual states are better equipped to manage schooling.
On Tuesday, Trump reiterated this stance, stating that if his nominee for education secretary, Linda McMahon, is confirmed, she should work to “put herself out of a job.”
Concerns over the nation’s declining academic performance have added fuel to the debate. The latest Nation’s Report Card showed that seven out of ten fourth graders are not proficient in reading—an even worse result than the previous assessment in 2022.
The report further noted that reading scores have remained stagnant since 1992, raising questions about the effectiveness of federal oversight in education.
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who led the department during Trump’s first term, has been vocal in calling for its dissolution. In a recent opinion piece, she argued that the agency has prioritized ideological mandates over academic fundamentals.
“A complete reset begins with ending the failed experiment resident in the Department of Education. The bureaucrats have focused on mandating DEI, when students needed the focus to be on ABC and 123,” DeVos wrote.
She urged Trump and Congress to “take their corrosive power away” and instead distribute education funding directly to states through block grants.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has become a central figure in the administration’s efforts to overhaul the federal government. As head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk is expected to oversee significant budget cuts, including potential reductions to education funding.
His role has made him a target of Democratic criticism, with lawmakers protesting against him on Capitol Hill earlier this week.
The standoff at the Department of Education building underscores the escalating battle over the future of federal involvement in education.
With the Trump administration pushing for decentralization and Democrats demanding accountability, the debate is unlikely to settle anytime soon.