In Washington, the outrage among Democrats is palpable as they grapple with the recent power moves made by President Donald Trump and his high-profile associate, Elon Musk. Various actions initiated by the tech billionaire, which encompass an aggressive acquisition of taxpayer information and the notable collapse of a key federal humanitarian agency, have sparked considerable frustration, particularly among Democratic leaders who are still trying to regain their footing following the elections.
Members of Congress from the Democratic Party are contemplating ways to stifle Trump’s initiatives, including the nominations of his Cabinet members. Efforts have emerged to create a strategic response center within party headquarters. At the same time, Democratic activists have organized large-scale protests, with numerous elected officials joining to alert the public about what they describe as an impending constitutional crisis amidst swelling crowds in the capital.
Newly elected chair of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, expressed in a recent interview, “Together, we can work to push back against the extremes and excesses of the Trump administration,” adding, “It’s only been two weeks, and Elon Musk is already our worst president.” However, the feasibility of hindering the actions of Trump and Musk remains questionable.
With Republicans holding the reins of power in both the executive branch and both houses of Congress—along with a conservative 6-3 majority in the Supreme Court—the prospects for halting Trump and Musk’s controversial undertakings seem dim. Thus far, Republicans have largely supported the bold maneuvers pushed by both figures.
Vice President JD Vance publicly endorsed one of Musk’s recent social media declarations, which alleged the discovery of approximately $700 billion in government fraud. Vance remarked, “I initially believed $250 billion would be the upper limit for waste and fraud; however, the actual figure will likely surpass that.”
Musk, currently the richest individual globally, is leading a team at the Department of Government Efficiency in Washington. Utilizing his influence, he aims to oust or marginalize established government officials, attain access to confidential databases, and dismantle agencies he views unfavorably—all with the endorsement of President Trump.
Reports indicated that agents associated with Musk were seen at the Department of Education, an agency Trump has promised to close down. On another note, Musk has also called for the withdrawal of federal funding from National Public Radio.
The maneuvering is taking place without congressional authorization, raising serious concerns about the extent of presidential powers. Democratic activists are rallying for their representatives to take firmer actions.
A rally outside the Department of Treasury saw over 1,000 protesters voicing their discontent with chants of “Elon Musk has got to go!” as numerous Democratic members of Congress took the stage to share their thoughts. This demonstration transpired in the same building where Musk’s team had recently accessed the U.S. Treasury payment system, a system responsible for processing one billion payments annually amounting to $5 trillion, revealing sensitive personal information.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer attempted to initiate a chant of “We will win,” only to be soon drowned out by calls to “Shut down the Senate!” Demonstrating further discontent, Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Texas emphasized that fellow Democrats should refrain from cooperating with Republicans in managing the GOP-controlled House, even if that results in a government shutdown.
“There is no parallel in modern history to the situation we are currently in,” Crockett remarked. “In the Black community, we would say the hoods are off.”
In conjunction with this sentiment, several Senate Democrats have expressed their intent to oppose all of Trump’s remaining Cabinet nominees. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester from Delaware declared, “My plan is to oppose every Cabinet-level nominee presented on the Senate floor from now on.” She cited unlawful budget freezes, illegal layoffs, and unconstitutional dismissals executed by the administration as unacceptable behaviors that warrant their pushback.
The escalating frustration among Democrats reaches beyond the capital city, as constituents express disappointment over what they perceive as insufficient action from their Congressional leaders. Ezra Levin, who leads an activist group named Indivisible, reported that 50,000 individuals joined a conference call to push senators toward a more confrontational stance against Musk. Although he acknowledged that there has been a rallying among Democrats in Washington since the freeze on grants last week, he believes there is more the party can achieve, especially in the Senate.
Levin stated, “There should be ongoing opposition to Trump’s nominees during this critical threat.” Notably, there were 22 Senate Democrats who voted in favor of confirming Doug Collins as Trump’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs, emphasizing how the present challenges extend beyond individual programs to fundamental questions involving constitutional governance.
Options for Democrats appear limited. Philip Joyce, a professor specializing in public policy at the University of Maryland, highlighted that the Trump administration has shown a willingness to implement actions that bypass Congress in this latest wave of executive orders.
Joyce remarked, “Since they seem unbothered by previous legal or constitutional norms, the only alternative appears to be legal opposition through the courts.” Presently, many Democrats are pinning their hopes on the judiciary system to enact the checks and balances that Trump’s Republican counterparts in Washington have not provided.
In fact, Democratic state attorneys general and various nonprofit organizations successfully initiated lawsuits last week, resulting in court orders that halted the funding freezes implemented by Trump, which alarmed numerous nonprofit entities, including hospitals and social welfare organizations. On Monday, federal worker unions initiated a lawsuit against Musk and his team, restricting their access to the Treasury payment system, as multiple groups have taken to court to prevent changes to civil service protections for numerous federal employees.
However, there is a growing concern that Trump may disregard court orders entirely. Already, the term-limited president is sidestepping laws establishing federal allocations and employee rights, raising alarms among unions and advocacy groups.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, indicated that his union is bracing for the possibility of Trump flouting a court order. “We will persist. Our battle for justice will continue,” he declared.
As a potential silver lining amidst the turmoil, Kelley observed that participation in unions has surged due to Trump’s administration. “The American Federation of Government Employees welcomed 8,693 new members in January and has since added 3,000 more members,” he noted.
Affected government workers were among those demonstrating outside federal offices on Tuesday, with protesters directing their ire at Musk more than at Trump. “Elon, Elon, stop the coup! Nobody elected you!” echoed their chants earlier, while others displayed placards demanding, “Musk must go. Get out! Now.”
“It’s one thing to downsize government; it’s entirely different to aim to eradicate it,” criticized Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father contributed greatly to the workforce as a farmer and USDA scientist. “The steps being taken by the Trump administration are alarming and despicable,” he added, expressing a cautious hope that the administration’s overreach might provoke a greater response, ultimately strengthening the belief in democracy.
