Congresswoman Ross holds town hall on changes to government

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- There were so many people signed up to speak at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School on Thursday evening, Congresswoman Deborah Ross had to cap the attendance to 550 people.

Ross not mincing words about what's happening in the White House..

"We're witnessing nothing less than an unprecedented assault on our government, our Constitution, and our democracy," said Ross.

Many of the questions had to do with curbing the influence of Elon Musk and DOGE, and also federal job cuts.

"Anything we can do to get involved and change what we see going on right now," said Raleigh resident Carrie Frasure.

But there was also the news of the day., as President Donald Trump announced he wants to dismantle the Department of Education.

That could impact Wake County Schools. Ross was joined by Wake School Board Chair Chris Heagerty who said potential cuts would hurt 10 percent of the budget including special education, magnet programs, and English as a second language.

"We need transparency, we need responsibility, but by god you do not sacrifice the most vulnerable students, special education students, poor students, for the purposes of scoring political points," said Heagarty.

There were a few tense moments American Federation Government employee Gabbi McKinley wanted to make sure she was called on. She said she was concerned for laid off EPA workers she represents through her union.

"We helped in the hurricane relief cleanup. We help determine whether there was clean water there. We're the ones here in RTP that did the air now and air, which tells everybody their air quality every day, whether it's safe to go outside, whether it, you know, what pollutions are in the air," McKinley said.

Ross promised to fight for funding in Congress saying the Trump administration can't cut funding without Congressional approval.