Democratic Lawmakers Denied Entry to Education Department

On February 7, a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Maxwell Frost, were denied entry to the Department of Education building, where they sought to meet with acting Secretary Denise Carter regarding concerns about plans to dismantle the department. Security personnel informed the lawmakers that they were not on a guest list, leading Frost to criticize the situation as 'illegal' and indicative of an 'authoritarian regime.' This incident is part of a broader pattern, as Democrats have faced similar access issues at other federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency for International Development, amid discussions of significant budget cuts and departmental closures proposed by the Trump administration. Rep. Mark Takano stated that the Democrats' efforts to engage with the Department are essential for defending public education and holding the administration accountable. These actions have sparked significant backlash against the perceived obstruction of Congress's oversight role. The Department of Education has not commented on the incident.