A swarm of angry House Democrats fearing the Department of Education will be next in line on the chopping block for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency were barred Friday from entering the agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters.
It is the fourth time this week that Democrat lawmakers reportedly have been blocked from entering a federal agency that has been targeted by DOGE, President Donald Trump's advisory committee tasked with streamlining the federal government by eliminating fraud and waste.
A group of House Democrats led by Rep. Mark Takano of California were halted by security who "locked" the building doors, a congressional aide told the New York Post. On Thursday, Takano and 95 other House Democrats sent a letter to acting Education Department Secretary Denise Carter requesting an "urgent" meeting regarding reports that "the Trump Administration has plans to illegally dismantle or drastically reduce the Department through Executive Order."
Video footage showed an official informing the lawmakers that their meeting request had not been "accepted" and there was "no business purpose" for their visit. The congressional aide told the Post that the department's office of legislative affairs "acknowledged receipt of the letter," with no further response.
The video showed Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., asking the official standing in front of the doors, "What do you do here?"
He replied, "I have security responsibilities."
Waters then shouted, "Get out of the way. We pay for your job. We pay you."
Trump is expected to issue an executive order this month that directs the Education Department to create a plan to wind down its function using its existing authority, Politico reported Friday. The order is also expected to call for the agency to take stock of the laws needed to delegate the department's powers to other agencies before closure, likely acknowledging that some congressional approval is needed.
DOGE representatives reportedly are using artificial intelligence technology to investigate the Education Department's programs and spending, focusing on contracts, grants, and work trip expenses.
"President Donald Trump has promised to abolish the Department of Education," Takano told reporters outside the building, according to the Post. "He believes that he can do this through Executive Order and we are here to remind him: He cannot!
"The Department was created through an act of Congress. It cannot be abolished except through an act of Congress."
Several security officers and officers with Department of Homeland Security patches and gear stood inside the building just beyond the door, according to Politico.
"The protest was organized by members of Congress who were exercising their First Amendment rights, which they are at liberty to do," Education Department spokesperson Jim Bradshaw told Axios. "They did not have any scheduled appointments, and the protest has since ended."