See below for some statements/reactions by Virginia Democrats to Trump and Musk (illegally/unconstitutionally) gutting the US Department of Education. Of course, if the law and the constitution aren’t enforced, and if the Republican-controlled Congress won’t assert its rights as a co-equal branch of government, those laws and constitutional requirements and prerogatives of Congress won’t just magically function by themselves (instead, our democracy, rule of law and separation of powers/checks-and-balances will be toast, if they aren’t already)…

Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus Responds to Reckless Cuts to the U.S. Department of Education Threatening Virginia Schools, Students, and Federal Workers

RICHMOND, V.A. — Today, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus released the following statement in response to the federal administration’s decision to cut the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce in half by, firing over 1,000 employees:

“Firing half of the Department of Education’s staff is not just cutting the government. This is yet another direct attack on education, this time from the President of the United States. This action impacts school systems across the country, including Virginia’s K-12 schools, student programs, and college funding. It is chaos with no purpose.

This is yet another reckless and thoughtless move by the President and the unelected President, Elon Musk. And, let us not forget all of this is silently upheld or loudly reinforced by our governor. This decision punishes hardworking federal employees in Virginia, leaving families wondering if they will have food on the table and clothes on their backs because they no longer have jobs. Will Governor Youngkin stand up for the livelihoods being destroyed by this administration?

Will he fight for the thousands of federal workers in our Commonwealth, or will he continue to stand by in silence? So far, he has done nothing. He is like the Roman Emperor Nero, fiddling while Virginia is burning as a consequence of federal actions.”

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Ranking Member Connolly’s Statement on DOGE’s Efforts to Gut the Department of Education

Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement in response to the initiation of reduction in force (RIF) at the Department of Education (ED).

“The future of the United States depends on a strong Department of Education.  Today, President Trump allowed an unelected billionaire to annihilate this essential institution.  By purging nearly half of the dedicated civil servants at ED, they are paving the way for their cronies in private education to fill in the gaps.  Trump University should not be the model for K-12 education in America.” 

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Beyer Statement On Trump’s Illegal Assault On The Department Of Education

March 12, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s mass firing of thousands of employees at the U.S. Department of Education:

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s political purge of the Department of Education is a gross betrayal of American students. It is also illegal: Trump is plainly trying to eliminate by fiat a department established in law by Congress.

“Gutting the Department of Education would have horrific effects on American students and schools. Teachers will be fired, students will go hungry, college will be less affordable, and the worst harm will fall on students with disabilities and students of color. All this just to put a few more dollars into the pockets of billionaires – it is truly disgusting.

“Department of Education workers, many of whom I represent learned of their terminations in waves last night that included the eliminations of entire offices. These steep cuts heavily targeted hundreds of attorneys, student aid workers, and civil rights office staff. Trump and Musk’s abysmal abuse of the federal civil service is only getting worse, and the loss of these workers and their expertise will further harm the delivery of key services to the American people – in this case to our students.

“I will be joining colleagues to conduct vigorous oversight of this matter. This provides still more reason to vote against continuing the status quo of Trump-inflicted destruction of the federal government and mass firings of federal workers, if any were needed.”