Congress Members Face Barriers.

On Friday, a group of Democrats, including Representatives Maxine Waters and Maxwell Frost went to the Department of Education. They wanted to talk with the acting Education Secretary, Denise Carter. They claimed to be denied access by a single guard at the door. These members of Congress had been protesting billionaire Elon Musk's initiatives at the novel Department of Government Efficiency. They believe that Musk's cost-saving efforts are damaging federal agencies. The representatives were upset and questioned why Elon Musk could enter the Department of Education, but they could not. As of 2025, the Department of Education is a hot topic for both Democrats and President Donald Trump, many protesting and complaining about the education system. Waters and Frost called for a change in how education is handled in the United States, and the Trump administration criticized their agenda. Trump said, "the Democrats don't love our country and the bigger picture is about improving educational outcomes. " He added that the U. S. education system ranked 40th in the world. "The good news is we’re number one in one category. You know what that is? Cost per pupil. We spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, " Trump said. Democrats say they are working to protest the Trump administration. Democrats spent the previous week protesting outside federal buildings including outside the U. S. Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, the Labor Department, and the U. S. Capitol. The Democrats say President Donald Trump has been shutting down the U. S. Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, the Labor Department, and the Education Department. The security guard said he was doing his job, and the Department of Education claimed the members of Congress did not have an appointment. Representatives Waters and Frost promised to be back. Their frustration was clear as they criticized the administration for not allowing them to enter federal buildings. They believe their protest is a way to bring their message to the administration. The security guard outside of the Education Department claimed he was a federal employee doing his job but did not respond to most of the questions lobbed at him by the group. The Department of Education said the members of Congress didn’t have an appointment.