Feb 13, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Democrats draft bill to force federal agencies to grant them entry

Andrew Solender

Rep. Jahana Hayes speaking in front of a crowd at a podium with a "PROTECT STUDENTS PROTECT PUBLIC SCHOOLS" sign from the National Education Association. — Rep. Jahana Hayes at a rally to defend public education led by the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 12. Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Education Association

House Democrats are introducing legislation that would require federal agencies to let members of Congress enter their buildings after being locked out of four federal headquarters last week.

Why it matters: The lawmakers see physical access as a crucial part of their congressional oversight into the Trump administration's efforts to weaken and shutter a slew of federal agencies.

Driving the news: The two-page measure, called the All Access Act of 2025, would mandate that any member of Congress be allowed to enter a federal building if they show a valid congressional ID during regular business hours.

Outside of normal business hours, agencies would still have to allow lawmakers in if they are given at least 12 hours notice of their arrival.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), has 44 co-sponsors including many of the lawmakers who tried to access federal buildings last week.

Zoom in: House and Senate Democrats attended a series of rallies last week outside federal agencies that Elon Musk and DOGE have targeted.

In four cases — at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Education Department — the lawmakers were blocked from entering the buildings.
"This is a direct assault on the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branch," Hayes said of the lockouts in a statement announcing her bill.

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Democrats draft bill to force federal agencies to grant them entry

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