McMahon meeting with House Democrats over Education Department layoffs

Education Secretary Linda McMahon is having a meeting with House Democrats Wednesday over their concerns surrounding the layoffs at the Department of Education, which she and President Trump have been vocal about trying to eliminate entirely.  

Rep. Mark Takano (Calif.) and at least ten other Democratic members will meet with McMahon at 9:30 a.m. local time, according to information obtained by NewsNation, after the number of Education Department employees was cut in half from over 4,000 to a little more than 2,000. 

Seventy-five House representatives had asked to discuss the matter with the secretary and how the department will continue to fulfill its congressional obligations.  

Congressional Democrats had previously tried to go the Education Department for a meeting but were not allowed in the building.

President Trump on March 20 signed an executive order to dismantle the Education Department, a move strongly opposed by the Democrats.  

The lawmakers plan to hold a press conference soon after the meeting is over.  

The meeting comes as several groups have filed lawsuits against the department and Trump administration for the layoffs and the executive order to dismantle the agency.  

So far, McMahon has supported all the efforts to downsize and weaken her own department.  

“Today’s Executive Order is a history-making action by President Trump to free future generations of American students and forge opportunities for their success. We are sending education back to the states where it so rightly belongs,” McMahon said at the time.