Read Full Letter Below
Six top Senate Democrats are expressing “outrage” and their “serious concerns” after Betsy DeVos, in conjunction with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, revoked the Obama administration’s guidance on protecting transgender students. Senators Patty Murray, Al Franken, Tammy Baldwin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren, and Maggie Hassan sent the Education Secretary a five-page letter (below) demanding answers within the next two weeks to eleven questions.
Among the questions:
“Please state with specificity the ways in which the learning environment for transgender students is made safer by the revocation of the guidance?”
“How is the withdrawal of transgender guidance consistent with the ‘federal mandate’ and ‘moral obligation’ you describe all schools as having to protect students from bullying, harassment, and discrimination?”
“Do you believe that states and localities may choose whether to comply with federal civil rights laws?”
“Did the Department consult with any advocates for transgender people before revoking the guidance?”
“Who made the decision to revoke the transgender guidance?”
The letter requires a response by March 24.
All six Senators are members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
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