Democrats Demanding Answers From Trump
On Thursday, Democrats in both the House and Senate sent a letter to the acting Education Secretary demanding transparency about the potential executive orders from President Trump aimed at weakening or eliminating the Department of Education.
The lawmakers expressed concerns over the Trump administration’s use of executive orders to undermine federal agencies and freeze federal assistance. The Democrats wrote that in just two weeks, the administration had taken action that could have a lasting negative impact on vital government programs. They also highlighted that federal employees, who are simply doing their jobs, have been targeted, even facing suspension or punishment.
Among the claims in the letter, the Democrats accused Elon Musk of using his influence to undermine government agencies while gaining access to sensitive federal data. They also pointed to incidents where employees of the Education Department were allegedly placed on administrative leave after attending a diversity training event that was endorsed by the Trump administration itself in 2019.
The letter stressed the critical role the Department of Education plays in supporting students, especially those who are disabled, live in rural areas, or are veterans. Programs like FAFSA and various student aid systems are essential to ensuring that all Americans have access to higher education. The lawmakers made it clear they would not sit idly by while the Trump administration worked to dismantle an agency that provides important services to students, families, and educators.
This letter was sent by prominent Democrats, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). They demanded that the Education Department respond by Friday with detailed information on actions taken since January 20, 2017, including which individuals had access to sensitive data, which employees were placed on leave, and whether any obligations or awards had been interrupted.
This letter comes as President Trump has discussed using executive action to either eliminate or significantly weaken the Department of Education. Some reports suggest he may soon issue executive orders to make these changes.
