Democrats prepare to challenge Trump on Education Department
- Democrats aim to block the proposed elimination of the U.S. Education Department.
- Rep. Bobby Scott is using committee investigative powers to examine the dismantling process.
- The Heritage Foundation is urging Republican lawmakers to sunset the department.
- Education Department staff has been reduced by nearly half during Trump's second term.
- Democrats acknowledge that overriding presidential vetoes on education bills remains unlikely.
Congressional Democrats are mobilizing to oppose President Donald Trump's plan to dismantle the U.S. Education Department, though they possess only limited tools to rein in his agenda. Democrats in Congress plan to use their new majorities to challenge these policies as of Monday, 9 November 2026.
The administration has proposed the elimination of the U.S. Education Department. The effectiveness of these legislative challenges remains limited by the veto power of the President.
Rep. Bobby Scott initiates oversight of department dismantling
Rep. Scott plans to conduct hearings and issue subpoenas to monitor the dismantling of the Education Department, the oversight of student loans, and anti-discrimination policies.
Legislative hurdles and veto threats limit Democratic influence
Democrats have little optimism that they will be able to override vetoes from the President on major education legislation despite their new power in Congress.
Weingarten said, "Even if he vetoes them, let’s put the pressure on to get it to his desk, and then you see what the contrast is".
Budgetary tactics proposed to create guard rails
Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats are considering adding conditions to spending bills to create guard rails against the Trump administration’s education agenda, Senator Chris Van Hollen said. Advocates are pushing Democrats to use appropriations language to force the administration to reverse the transfer of Education Department functions to other agencies.
Student Defense President Aaron Ament stated he believes the administration lacks the authority to continue dismantling these offices. During the second term of Donald Trump, the Education Department reduced its staff by nearly half, with primary duties parceled out to other agencies through intergovernmental agreements.
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Heritage Foundation pushes for department closure
The Heritage Foundation requested that Republican lawmakers introduce legislation to close the Education Department the day after the midterm elections. The organization argues that the agency has not proven its value since it opened in 1980. It urged lawmakers to work with Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "sunset this failed bureaucracy".
Education Department spokesperson Savannah Newhouse accused Democrats of plotting to "prematurely sabotage" McMahon. White House spokesperson Liz Huston also criticized Democrats for "disastrous leadership" regarding the department.
Political shifts and administration personnel changes
She also called on her party to address the administration's failure to support students.
Personnel changes follow the midterm elections. Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant attorney general who led Justice Department investigations into elite universities, resigned last Thursday. President Trump promoted Stephen Miller to the position of chief of staff.
AAUP president Todd Wolfson said the organization backed Michigan Senate winner Abdul El-Sayed.
Education issues were not a primary focus in the midterm elections. The elections served largely as a referendum on Trump's economic policies and the war in Iran.
Education policy takes backseat to other legislative priorities
Education issues are expected to be a lower priority for Democrats in the next Congress.
Hollingsworth reported these developments from Mission, Kansas.
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