In a bold demonstration against recent mass terminations, a group of dismissed federal employees has occupied Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office, voicing their dissent against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its leader, Elon Musk. This protest is part of a broader wave of unrest among federal workers facing unprecedented job cuts under the current administration.
The sit-in at Senator Murkowski’s office reflects the growing frustration among federal employees who have been abruptly laid off as part of DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting measures. Protesters are demanding immediate intervention from lawmakers to halt further layoffs and to reinstate those unjustly terminated. Similar demonstrations have erupted across Capitol Hill, with former employees staging sit-ins and rallies to draw attention to their plight.
The Department of Government Efficiency, established in January 2025 and helmed by Elon Musk, aims to streamline federal operations and reduce government spending. However, its rapid implementation of mass layoffs has led to significant disruptions across various agencies. Notably, the Environmental Protection Agency faces a proposed 65% reduction in staff, and the Department of State has already seen 10,000 positions eliminated, jeopardizing critical international aid projects. These sweeping cuts have raised concerns about the government’s capacity to deliver essential services and maintain national security.
In response to the turmoil, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order expanding DOGE’s mandate, requiring agencies to develop systems for recording and justifying payments, with the potential for public disclosure. This move has intensified fears among federal workers about increased surveillance and job insecurity. Additionally, the administration plans to slash over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, amounting to $60 billion in cuts, further fueling protests from affected employees and advocates.
The backlash against DOGE’s methods has not been limited to protests. Twenty-one civil service employees recently resigned from the department, refusing to use their expertise to “dismantle critical public services.” In a letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the departing employees expressed their inability to uphold their commitments to the American people under the current directives. Elon Musk dismissed these resignations as “fake news,” alleging that the individuals were partisan actors resistant to returning to in-person work.
The situation has escalated to the point where Musk has reported receiving numerous death threats related to the federal job cuts. Despite the mounting opposition and personal risk, both Musk and President Trump remain steadfast in their commitment to overhauling the federal workforce, citing the necessity of such measures to prevent national bankruptcy.
As the protests continue and the federal workforce grapples with uncertainty, the nation watches closely to see how these unprecedented changes will reshape the landscape of public service and governance in the United States.
Sources:
- Fired workers stage sit-in at senator’s office protesting terminations
- US government spending has not slowed under Trump so far, data shows
- Trump executive order targets payments and travel after reporters barred from cabinet meeting – as it happened
- Federal workers react to Trump administration’s new plan for restructuring, staff cuts: ‘They’ll have to fire me’
- All the Firing, Layoffs and Resignations We Know Of
- The DOGE Takeover Is Worse Than You Think
- Musk, DOGE, and the AI-Fueled Plot to Fire Everybody
- The D.C. ‘PayPal Mafia’ Goes Beyond Elon Musk. A Guide to Silicon Valley’s Hostile Takeover.
- Elon Musk’s ultimatum email to federal workers sets up power struggle in DC, among top Trump officials
- US personnel office walks back email ultimatum from Musk to workers
- Career employees resign DOGE in protest of cuts
- Federal technology staffers resign rather than help Musk and DOGE
- [DOGE hit by mass resignations: 21 staffers quit Elon Musk’s efficiency team, say ‘won’t use our skills…’](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-elon-musk-mass-resignations-at-doge-21-staffers-quit-elon-musks-efficiency-team-say-wont-use-our-skills-email-federal-employees-weekly-accomplishments/articleshow/
