Congressional lawmakers grilled Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King in an hourslong hearing Wednesday, pressing her and two other superintendents on policies supporting transgender students and other diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Members of the Republican-led U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee echoed the Trump administration in arguing the policies violate federal civil rights laws and discriminate against other students.

Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg, a staunch conservative from Michigan, opened the hearing with an accusation that CPS and other districts “sideline parents, compromise student privacy rights and fuel radical ideology.”

“When classrooms become vehicles for political or ideological agendas rather than places of learning … Congress has a responsibility to ask questions,” Walberg said.

The hearing, called “Breaking Trust: Attacks on Parental Rights, Inappropriate Content, and Legal Abuses in America’s Schools,” came a year after CPS faced a federal probe over its Black Student Success Program. After the district refused to scrap the initiative, the U.S. Education Department pulled millions in federal grants.

King, who generally responded to the committee’s more pointed questions by noting compliance with state law, spoke to the district’s commitment to equity in her opening remarks.

“In CPS, we say every student, every school, every community,” King said. “Fulfilling that commitment requires us to recognize the diversity of experiences, needs, and strengths that exist across our district.”

The hearing marked an early test for King, a former CPS teacher and principal, who took over the district on an interim basis last summer and was named permanent CEO in March.

She was joined by Aaron Spence, superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, and Maria Su, superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District. Both districts have similar policies to CPS that allow students to use pronouns, locker rooms and restrooms that align with their gender identities — a recurring point of contention throughout the hearing.

“Is it the policy of Chicago Public Schools to forbid biological boys to go into locker rooms with biological girls?” asked Rep. Bob Onder, R-Missouri.

“The Chicago Public Schools policy is in alignment with Illinois law,” King responded.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, charged that CPS “promotes abortion” by listing a partnership with Planned Parenthood on its website. CPS follows state law in providing sexual health services to students, and notes on its website that minors are able to access abortion care in Illinois.

Wilson then asked King a series of questions about abortion procedures, including which method she considered “most preferable.”

“In particular, do you support suctioning the baby out intact, or should the baby be dismembered part by part, disposal of the arms, legs, head and body?” Wilson asked.

King asked Wilson to repeat himself before responding. “I’m very disturbed by that question,” she said. “I want to say that Chicago Public Schools’ sexual education curriculum is in compliance with Illinois state law.”

Several Democrats on the committee criticized the line of questioning, arguing that the hearing’s premise was an attempt to score political points.

“Do not buy into the bull. You know what you do, you’re good at what you do,” Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Connecticut, told the superintendents. “Do not be intimidated by this committee.”

King was the only school leader testifying under subpoena. Citing scheduling and student privacy concerns, she declined repeated requests to attend voluntarily. Walberg said it was the first time he had to issue a subpoena while leading the committee.

Walberg also pressed King on a recent religious discrimination lawsuit filed by Moody Bible Institute against the district. Moody said it was barred from the district’s student-teacher program after refusing to sign the district’s nondiscrimination policy, which conflicts with the college’s religious beliefs regarding gender and marriage.

The lawsuit was settled in Moody’s favor in March, but Walberg drilled down on the district’s religious freedom policies.

“Are teachers who believe that marriage is only between a man and woman welcome in your district?” Walberg asked.

“We ask that they adhere to the Chicago Public Schools policies,” King said. “We do not ask for their beliefs.”

King and the other school leaders appeared measured in their comments, defending their policies while seemingly trying not to invite further federal scrutiny. The same House body grilled several university presidents on alleged antisemitism in 2023 and 2024, leading to a string of high-profile resignations.

Lawmakers also raised concerns about the district’s “Civic Day of Action” on May 1, also known as International Workers’ Day, which, through a deal with the Chicago Teachers Union, allowed students and teachers to attend civic engagement events or rallies advocating for immigrant and labor rights. Critics had argued that the agreement was imbuing the classroom with progressive politics.

“Would you approve a similar request for teachers and students to attend March for Life and protest the evils of abortion?” asked Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Indiana.

But King stood her ground. “This was not a politically slanted event. … Curriculum was expansive, and there were options,” she said.

As lawmakers prepared to convene, Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Illinois, whose district covers a large swath of the Northwest Side of the city, rallied outside with parents, students and CTU members who had bused across the country to show support. She said Chicago “will continue to defend our Black and brown babies.”

“What you’ll see today in committee is a bunch of scared, insecure, small-minded adults having a tantrum, attacking our children, and rejecting a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” Ramirez said.

Back in Chicago, Board of Education President Sean Harden read a statement in support of King during the board’s agenda review meeting. The majority of the board stood beside him in the district’s downtown office as he expressed “complete confidence in her leadership.”

“Whether it’s building community partnerships, advocating for our schools, or testifying before Congress, as she’s done today, we applaud her unwavering commitment to keeping students and families at the center,” Harden said. “We understand that she did a fantastic job, and we look forward to welcoming her back to Chicago.”

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Tribune reporter Kate Perez contributed.

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