Protestors gather outside of Department of Education following recent layoffs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Honk-a-Thon on Independence Avenue is expected to bring the noise in protest of the Department of Education laying off nearly 50% of its staff amid President Donald Trump’s plan to dismantle the agency.
Department officials announced the cuts on Tuesday, which raised questions about the agency’s ability to continue usual operations.
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A collection of education advocacy groups are set to honk their horns while passing between 4th and 6th streets on Independence Avenue, near the Lyndon B. Johnson Building in Southwest D.C. from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday morning.
The groups are expected to rally outside the Department of Education building at 400 Maryland Ave. SW from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Department of Education employees sent home, nearly half of staff to be eliminated: report
About half of the staff at the Department of Education are expected to be laid off in the latest round of firings under the Trump Administration, FOX News reports.
In addition to fired workers, education advocates, teachers, students and parents are coming out to support the Department.
This rally will include representatives from the National Education Association, the American Federation of Government Employees National, the American Federation of Teachers, Voters of Tomorrow, MomsRising, the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Color of Change, the National Parents Union, All4Ed, Disability Power and Pride, and Aquí: The Accountability Movement.