Protest Against Trump Administration and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
Thousands Gather in New York City to Speak Out Against DOGE’s Actions and Trump’s Executive Order
More than 10,000 protesters gathered in New York City on Presidents’ Day to express their discontent with the current Trump administration and the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
Protesters’ Concerns
Protesters who spoke to TechCrunch at Washington Square Park expressed concerns about DOGE’s access to sensitive data of millions of Americans and the group’s dismantling of federal agencies. They viewed Musk’s work with DOGE as a veiled attempt at a financial power grab and expressed frustration that Musk, an unelected official, has gained unprecedented levels of power over the federal government.
Concerns about Data Privacy and Power Concentration
"I think it’s extremely dangerous that [Musk] has access to our personal data," said Dmitri, a 53-year-old architect who asked that his last name not be used. "He’s kind of a futurist fanboy who’s basically living in a sci-fi fantasy and trying to implement that, and has the resources to do mass amounts of damage. He’s tinkering with something that he doesn’t have the ability to actually understand."
Criticism of Trump’s Executive Order
A 55-year-old retired teacher, who identified himself only as Tom, held a sign that read: "No one voted for Musk." He told TechCrunch, "As much as I dislike the fact that a significant number of Americans voted for Trump, it is absolutely the case that no one voted for Musk." Tom noted that he didn’t believe the average MAGA supporter voted for Musk and worried that DOGE’s cuts would hurt Americans on a state, local, and individual level.
Consolidation of Power
"The consolidation of power under billionaires is a frightening thing," Tom said.
History of DOGE’s Actions
Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to create DOGE, giving Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX, Tesla, X, and other companies, the reins to root out government fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Since then, DOGE has fired nearly 10,000 federal workers who handled everything from managing federal lands to caring for military veterans. Another 75,000 workers have accepted the Trump administration’s buyout proposal, which offered federal workers eight months’ pay and benefits to leave their posts if they resigned in early February. DOGE has also cut 104 government contracts related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs and dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Controversial Access to Treasury Department’s Digital Payments System
Trump also granted Musk’s DOGE team access to the Treasury department’s digital payments system, which controls trillions of dollars in payments to Americans, from Social Security benefits to tax refunds, despite questions about their security clearances, cybersecurity practices, and the legality of Musk’s activities.
Protest and Counter-Protest
Supporters of Trump and Musk applaud their on-paper efforts to root out corruption, inefficiency, and red tape. Opponents object to the way DOGE is going about its stated goals, and warn that the team’s actions will lead to more corruption and national security risks. A wave of legal challenges has followed, alleging a lack of transparency and data privacy violations.
Confronting the Future of DOGE
As protesters chanted "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go" and held signs that touted a range of causes, but Musk and DOGE were a common theme throughout, the New York Police Department estimated the number of attendees to be more than 10,000. Victoria, a 37-year-old teacher, held a sign that read: "Stop the coup," echoing comments made to The Guardian on Monday by Arizona’s attorney general, Kris Mayes, who told the outlet, "In the U.S., we appeal rulings we disagree with – we don’t ignore court orders or threaten judges with impeachment just because we don’t like the decision. This is a coup, plain and simple."
Conclusion
The protests in New York City and other cities across the country demonstrate a growing unease about the direction of the Trump administration and the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency. As the controversy surrounding DOGE continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the concerns of protesters will be addressed or ignored.
FAQs
Q: What is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
A: DOGE is a government agency created by President Trump in 2025 to root out government fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
Q: Who leads DOGE?
A: Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX, Tesla, X, and other companies, leads DOGE.
Q: What are the concerns about DOGE?
A: Protesters are concerned about DOGE’s access to sensitive data of millions of Americans, the group’s dismantling of federal agencies, and the potential for abuse of power by Musk.
Q: What is the impact of DOGE’s actions on the economy and society?
A: DOGE’s actions have led to the firing of nearly 10,000 federal workers, the cutting of government contracts, and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, among other effects.
