Americans stand up for federal employees as Trump's DOGE ignites government layoffs

Community members rally in front of the Department of Education to protest budget cuts on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Community members rally in front of the Department of Education to protest budget cuts on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Protesters hold signs in solidarity with the American Federation of Government Employees of District 14 at a rally in support of federal workers at the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, DC, March 4, 2025. Since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has moved to unilaterally dismantle federal agencies and fired thousands of government workers.

Hundreds of demonstrators gather to protest against Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts outside the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on March 03, 2025 in Silver Spring, Md. The Trump administration fired about 800 probationary staff at NOAA, one of the world’s premier centers for climate science. The layoffs are on top of about 500 employees who left the agency after taking the so-called deferred resignation offer.

Demonstrators gather for a photo opportunity at the end of a protest, part of a nationwide series of protests planned at federal park sites, against the mass firings of National Park Service employees in a campaign by President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk to radically cut back the U.S. bureaucracy at Fort Mason Park in San Francisco, March 1, 2025.

People demonstrate during a protest against federal employee layoffs at Yosemite National Park, California on March 1, 2025. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) estimates 1,000 US National Park Service employees who were on one-year probationary periods were laid off. About 3,400 employees of the US Forest Service were among the cuts too, according to multiple US media reports. The cuts were part of the work of the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, as part of a declared effort to reduce public spending by dismantling the federal bureaucracy.

Protesters are seen at a rally standing up for Federal Workers in downtown Parkersburg, W. Va., Feb. 28, 2025.

USAID workers come together to share tears and hugs after removing their belongings from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2025. With the exception of critical staff, the Trump administration placed all personnel at USAID on paid administrative leave and eliminating 1, 600 positions in the United States.

USAID workers depart after removing their belongings from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2025.

Evangeline Reyes, an employee at USAID for the past 25 years, leaves the building and meets a former colleague who was there to support her as Reyes and other USAID workers removed their belongings from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2025.

People gather to support USAID workers as they remove their belongings from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2025.

A member of the U.S. Capitol Police escorts demonstrators from the office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, during a protest against President Trump's adviser billionaire Elon Musk's campaign to push out tens of thousands of federal workers on Feb. 25, 2025.

Protestors hold placards during a demonstration against the policies of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) near Musk's SpaceX headquarters in Washington, DC, on Feb. 19, 2025. The Trump administration has ordered senior military leaders to plan for expansive cuts that could slash the defense budget by eight percent annually, or some $290 billion within the next five years according to media reports.

Supporters of federal workers leave Valentines in front of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., speaks during the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Labor union activists rally in support of federal workers during a protest on Capitol Hill, Feb. 11, 2025.

Protesters gather at the Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds for a lunch break rally with the American Federation of Government Employees Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Sona Anderson, middle, and other protesters gather at the Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds for a lunch break rally with the American Federation of Government Employees Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.

Federal workers and supporters hold signs as they demonstrate against Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) outside of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) headquarters on Feb. 7, 2025 in Washington, DC. The group protested DOGE initiatives, including accessing sensitive employee data at OPM and the Treasury Department, shutting down of USAID and the "Fork in the Road" deferred resignation offer sent to OPM employees.