At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Democrats in the US House of Representatives have attacked the Trump White House for what they frame as breaches of democratic norms.
“The chaos and corruption at the White House continues unabated,” Representative Pete Aguilar of California told reporters.
The House members zeroed in on statements Trump made signalling he hopes to dismantle the Department of Education, among other agencies.
“President Trump and Elon Musk want to cut public education for our children and our neighbourhood schools to finance a $5 trillion tax giveaway to billionaires and wealthy corporations,” Aguilar said.
“The Republican war on students won’t lower the cost of eggs or groceries, but it will raise property taxes as the cost of Trump’s education cuts will be forced onto parents and homeowners.”
Reporters also asked the Democrats about their plans to push back on Republican spending cuts in the next round of budget negotiations and whether they should shut down the government as a means of exerting pressure.
“No House Democrat wants to shut down government,” Aguilar replied. “I want to be very clear with that. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House. If they want to keep government open, they should keep government open.”
