Democrats plan to use new power to rein in Trump’s education agenda. But their tools are limited

Democrats in Congress plan to use their incoming majorities to challenge President Donald Trump’s education policies, including the dismantling of the US Education Department and changes to anti-discrimination policy. Their main tools are congressional investigations and conditions on federal spending, while Trump’s veto power makes new laws to reverse his agenda unlikely.

Representative Bobby Scott says his committee will investigate the department’s changes, federal student-loan oversight and anti-discrimination policies; he has asked 10 agencies to preserve records. Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee are considering funding restrictions, but Senator Chris Van Hollen says these might limit further damage rather than rebuild what has already been dismantled. Trump officials have criticised the plans.