Thirty House Democrats tried to enter the Department of Education in D.C. on Friday morning. They wanted to meet with acting Education Secretary Denise L. Carter. Security stopped them at the door.
A man claiming to be a federal employee wouldn’t say why they were denied entry. He gave no clear reason for the block.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., pressed him for an answer. "Are you doing this on your own, or were you ordered?" he asked. The man simply replied, "I'm doing my job."
Lawmakers surrounded him, demanding their right to enter. They accused the Trump administration of a "lack of transparency." Frustration grew as they stood outside.
Trump and Republicans have long pushed to shut down the department. They argue states should control education. On Tuesday, Trump said if Linda McMahon is confirmed, she should aim to "put herself out of a job."
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., led 96 members in writing to Carter. They requested a meeting. The department confirmed receiving the letter but never scheduled anything.
An aide got inside and informed security about the lawmakers. When members tried to follow, the doors were locked. Fox News was told this happened in real-time.
The Nation’s Report Card revealed troubling numbers. Seven out of ten fourth graders can’t read proficiently. The scores are even worse than in 2022. Reading levels have barely changed since 1992.
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos criticized the department. She called for major reform in an opinion piece.
"A complete reset begins with ending the failed experiment resident in the Department of Education," DeVos wrote. "The bureaucrats have focused on mandating DEI, when students needed the focus to be on ABC and 123."
"This reset must also ensure that no child in America is trapped in a failing school," she added.
Elon Musk faced backlash from Democrats on Capitol Hill. His Department of Government Efficiency is expected to push for deep spending cuts.
Trump reassured lawmakers about Musk’s role. "He can't do and won't do anything without our approval," he said.