ABC News 4: Democratic lawmakers denied entry to Department of Education: 'We aren't dangerous'
WASHINGTON (CITC) — Democratic members of Congress were blocked Friday from entering the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Education, according to footage shared by the lawmakers.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., shared a video to X saying he and multiple other lawmakers visited the agency to "fight for education." He claimed the doors to the building were locked and a "random guy" outside refused to let the lawmakers inside.
The man was identified as "Jim Hairfield" by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., during the video. The name matches that of a deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Education's Office of Security, Facilities and Logistics Services, according to the agency's website.
"A year ago, I'd be able to walk into this building and not be locked out," Rep. Frost said. "Elon [Musk] is allowed in, but not you, not your elected representatives, not parents, not students."
He added in a separate X post "armed federal officials" were later called to the scene. Multiple officers can be seen in another video shared by the congressman.
"We aren’t dangerous," Rep Frost wrote. "We are here to represent our people. To defend public education."
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., also shared footage to X. In the video, she can be seen knocking on a door of the department's headquarters.
"The Musk-Trump admin want to slash public education and prevent Dems from conducting oversight," the congresswoman wrote in a post.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education told Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) the "protest" was "organized by members of Congress who were exercising their First Amendment rights, which they are at liberty to do."
"They did not have any scheduled appointments, and the protest has since ended," the spokesperson said.
The incident follows House and Senate Democrats sending a letter Wednesday to Acting Education Secretary Denise Carter demanding answers about possible plans to dismantle the federal agency. President Donald Trump pledged while campaigning to abolish the department and send education "work and needs" to individual states.
"We will not stand by and allow the impact that dismantling the Department of Education would have on the nation’s students, parents, borrowers, educators, and communities," the letter read. "Congress created the Department to ensure all students in America have equal access to a high-quality education and that their civil rights are protected no matter their zip [sic] code."
Various reports this week said the Trump administration was preparing an executive order to begin the process of eliminating the Department of Education. Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said Monday the president will "succeed" at the action.
"Reagan campaigned on ending the federal Dept of Education, which was created by Carter in 1979, but it was bigger when Reagan left office than when he started!" Musk wrote via X. "Not this time. [Trump] will succeed."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By: Kristina Watrobski
Source: ABC News 4