Democrats, McMahon Enjoy Cordial Meeting at Education Department

Democrats, McMahon Enjoy Cordial Meeting at Education Department

Education Secretary Linda McMahon met with about ten Democrat lawmakers about her plans for the department.

The lawmakers wanted answers about the firings, investigations, and claims of closing the department.

The Hill tried to frame the meeting as unproductive. It portrayed McMahon as hostile because she left the press conference without answering a question about when she would close the department.

*eye roll*

However, within the article, the publication included remarks from Democrats who expressed surprise with McMahon’s forthcoming attitude:

[California Democrat Rep. Mark] Takano and McMahon confirmed during a press conference afterwards that more meetings between the secretary and Democrats would take place in the future.

The press conference struck an odd balance between criticisms and cordial attitudes from the Democrats, who said no other Cabinet chief has yet been willing to meet with them face-to-face.

“I have to say the secretary indicated more than once that before she moved any functions of the department […] that she was looking carefully at what the statute allows her to do. That was refreshing information that the secretary conveyed to all of us,” Takano said.

“For a generally lawless, extraconstitutional, extralegal administration […] the words from this secretary were much different than I expected,” he added.

Weird what happens when you actually sit down and discuss like adults!

I do not know the speaker in the video, but she described the mood in the room as “cordial” and said all of them felt “extraordinarily grateful” that McMahon joined them and gave them the “space to have these conversations.”

McMahon then took the microphone:

Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for coming. And I just want to express my gratitude to all of these folks who came today so that we could have an open discussion about what I believe is one of the most important things that we can have a discussion on or action on in our country, and that is the education of our young people.

As Representative Takano said, as we were ending the meeting, which I thought was incredibly appropriate, and that this is not a partisan issue. This is about the children of America, and it’s the next generation, the generation after that. And if we want to have our leaders, if we want to have that next group of engineers and doctors and lawyers and plumbers and electrician and HVAC operators then we need to focus on how they can best have their education. And I believe, and I know the president does believe this as well, the best education is that that is closest to the child where teachers and parents, local superintendents working together, and local school boards to develop the curriculum for those students is the best way that it can happen.

Democrats had a press conference outside the Department of Education — so @EDSecMcMahon came out to join them:

"I believe — and I know @POTUS does believe this, as well — the best education is that that is closest to the child." pic.twitter.com/AdSrMtf1ph

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 2, 2025

But yes, as she left, Takano asked McMahon when she planned to close the department. Why would McMahon answer that question?

I wish McMahon had stated that she or President Donald Trump cannot close the department. A bill would have to go through Congress and receive 60 votes in the Senate.

McMahon and Trump can gut the department and send more power back to the states.

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