Trump Faces Backlash Over Education Department Closure Plan

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Trump Faces Backlash Over Education Department Closure Plan \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ More than a dozen House Democrats gathered at the Education Department on Friday, demanding a meeting with acting Education Secretary Denise Carter over President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency. Lawmakers, including Reps. Mark Takano, Maxine Waters, and Maxwell Frost, were denied entry, sparking outrage. The Trump administration’s impending executive order would direct the agency to prepare for closure and redistribute its functions. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have asked for oversight of the process, raising concerns over student aid, special education, and Title I funding.

House Democrats Protest Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Education Dept.: Quick Look

More than a dozen House Democrats arrived at the Education Department Friday, demanding a meeting with acting Secretary Denise Carter.
President Trump plans to issue an executive order directing the department to prepare for closure and transfer its responsibilities to other agencies.
Lawmakers, including Reps. Mark Takano, Maxine Waters, and Maxwell Frost, were denied entry into the building.
Security officers, including DHS personnel, blocked access, prompting members to flash their congressional ID cards in protest.
Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, have requested transparency on who is accessing the department’s data.
Trump defended his decision, stating he wants education control returned to the states and called protesting Democrats “anti-American.”
Linda McMahon, Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, is set for a Senate confirmation hearing next week, where she is expected to face tough questions on the shutdown.

Deep Look

A political standoff erupted Friday as over a dozen House Democrats gathered at the U.S. Department of Education, demanding answers about President Donald Trump’s impending executive order to dismantle the agency.

Democrats Demand Meeting, Denied Entry to Agency

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), arrived at the Education Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., insisting on meeting acting Education Secretary Denise Carter. Their goal: to determine whether Carter would comply with what they called an “illegal” order to shut down the agency.

“Although the president is determined to shut Congress out of the process, he will not. We will not allow it. We will not cede the responsibility for our future generations to one man, his ideology, and his unelected lieutenants,” Takano said.

He was joined by Democratic Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Jahana Hayes (Conn.), Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), and Greg Casar (Texas), among others.

However, upon attempting to enter the building, the lawmakers were denied access by security personnel, who stated that an appointment or an escort was required. This led to angry protests, with members flashing their congressional ID cards and pointing to a sign labeled “All Access” on the door.

Maxwell Frost recorded a video outside the building, criticizing the situation.

“They have armed officers acting like we’re dangerous,” Frost said. “A year ago, I’d be able to walk into this building and not be locked out.”

He further alleged that while billionaire Elon Musk had access, elected representatives were being shut out.

Trump’s Executive Order: A Radical Shift for U.S. Education

Trump is expected to sign an executive order this month, instructing the Education Department to begin shutting down its operations using existing legal authority. The order would also identify the laws requiring congressional approval for a full closure.

During a press briefing Friday, Trump dismissed the Democratic protest, calling some of the lawmakers “low-lifes” and accusing them of not loving the country.

“Oh, I see the same ones—Maxine Waters, all these people. They don’t love our country. We want great education,” Trump told reporters.

Trump reiterated his stance that education policy should be controlled at the state level.

“Beyond choice, long beyond choice, I want to see it go back to the states,” he added.

Concerns Over Student Funding and Education Programs

Democrats have raised serious concerns about the impact of dismantling the Education Department. Key questions remain unanswered regarding:

Title I funding that supports low-income schools, affecting 26 million students.
Special education services for 7.5 million students with disabilities.
Federal student aid, including grants and loans used by millions of college students.

“If it shuts down, who’s going to take care of these 26 million kids who rely on Title I funding? Who will take care of the 7.5 million with disabilities? Who will take care of the millions of students applying for financial aid?” asked Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.).

Oversight Efforts: Senate Democrats Demand Answers

As Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel began reviewing the Education Department’s records, Senate Democrats have demanded transparency.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and 14 other Senate Democrats sent a letter requesting a list of individuals with access to agency data.
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, has requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate data security at the agency.
Takano and 95 House Democrats gave the department 24 hours to schedule an urgent meeting regarding the Trump administration’s plans.

Linda McMahon’s Confirmation Hearing Looms

The showdown over the Education Department comes just days before Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, is set to face a Senate confirmation hearing.

McMahon, the former Small Business Administration head under Trump, is expected to face intense questioning over how she would handle the department’s closure.

Conclusion: A High-Stakes Battle Over U.S. Education Policy

The future of the U.S. Education Department remains in limbo, as Trump pushes forward with plans to shut it down while Democrats scramble to block the move.

With political tensions running high and millions of students’ futures at stake, the battle over America’s education system is set to become one of the defining policy fights of Trump’s presidency.