Watch: Linda McMahon storms off as Dems confront her outside Dept. of Education
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stormed off without answering questions after Democrats confronted her outside the department's headquarters.
During a press conference outside the department on Wednesday, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) yielded the microphone to McMahon after she unexpectedly appeared at the event where Democrats were opposing her mission to dismantle the agency.
"We're extraordinarily grateful that the secretary gave us the space to have these conversations," Stansbury said. "But with all due respect, madam, I think my biggest concern is that the states will not be able to protect the programs and services that you would like to devolve with them."
For her part, McMahon called for an "open discussion" about President Donald Trump's mandate to dismantle the Department of Education.
"And I welcome the fact that these folks came today and expressed their concerns and shared in an open collegial format their concerns and how we can lead now to work more together," she opined. "So I'm going to, I'm going to let them answer the questions. I just wanted to come out."
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) pleaded with McMahon to stay for questions.
"No," she insisted. "Well, we've, we've had our discussions already. So thank you all very, very much for coming."
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"When are you going to shut down this building?" Takano demanded to know.
McMahon turned and retreated back into the building.
"As you see, she's not answering the question when she's going to shut down the Department of Education," the California Democrat observed. "She doesn't have a plan."
"And while she doesn't have a plan, they're continuing to look at firing people, reduction in rifts, a reduction in force, maybe, you know, doing it with a velvet glove, but still it has the effect of an iron fist," he added.