Members of Congress denied access to Department of Education

Multiple members of Congress were denied entry to the Department of Education on Friday, according to videos and social media posts from lawmakers.  

“They are blocking members of Congress from entering the Department of Education! Elon is allowed in and not the people? ILLEGAL,” Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said in a post on X, referring to Elon Musk, the world's richest man and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The incident comes amid rising temperatures over the Trump administration's efforts to shut down the Education Department completely.

President Trump has said he would like to close the department via executive order, though doing so would require congressional action. Trump is reportedly weighing executive actions to shutter parts of the agency, or move its primary functions elsewhere.

A source familiar with the situation said the lawmakers went to the department after sending a letter Wednesday night requesting an emergency meeting with the acting Education secretary over those reports.

The Democratic lawmakers wanted a meeting within 24 hours and decided to show up to the building on Friday morning when they had not heard back from the agency by Thursday night.

The source told The Hill the individual blocking the door and denying members entry was with the Office of Security, Facilities and Logistics Services at the Department of Education.

The lawmakers were not given a reason as to why they were not allowed to enter the building and left after a while.

Trump and Musk have also moved aggressively against other government agencies, particularly the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“Billionaires can go in this building but not representatives,” said Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) in a video. “There’s a lack in transparency here.” 

Another video by Frost shows armed policeman showing up to the scene.  

“They’ve called armed federal officers to the scene. We aren’t dangerous. We are here to represent our people. To defend public education. This is an authoritarian regime. You cannot block members of Congress from entering the Department of Education,” Frost said in another post on X.  

The Hill has reached out to the Department of Education for comment.  

Democrats on Thursday were also denied entry to the Environmental Protection Agency after attempting to meet with DOGE officials and the EPA administrator.

—Updated at 11:25 a.m.