The protest movement against Musk is anticipated to escalate during Congress’s recess.

NEW YORK — While Donald Trump remains at the helm as president, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has emerged as a focal point of discontent for many Democratic activists. This week marks the beginning of a protest initiative aimed at countering the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle key federal healthcare, education, and human services agencies.

Numerous demonstrations are set to take place outside congressional offices and Tesla dealerships, with organizers eager to convey a strong message to lawmakers currently on recess. While the scale of these protests may not yet rival those seen during Trump’s inauguration eight years ago, a diverse group of Democrats and progressive activists are uniting against Musk’s increasing influence as one of Trump’s principal allies and his aggressive actions within federal agencies.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, expressed that Musk serves as a significant liability within the political landscape dominated by Trump’s supporters. “I can’t think of something that polls worse than the richest man in the world is coming after your Social Security check or your Meals on Wheels or your Head Start,” he remarked.

Indivisible, which boasts over 1,300 chapters nationwide, is urging members to stage protests at the offices of their respective representatives, regardless of their political affiliation. The group also provided a comprehensive guide for activists planning demonstrations outside Tesla dealerships, stressing the importance of adhering to public space regulations and avoiding disruptive actions that could hinder business operations. Additionally, their messaging aims to clarify that the protests are about political maneuvers rather than Tesla or Musk’s other commercial enterprises, such as SpaceX or X.

Separately, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is embarking on what he describes as “a national tour to fight oligarchy,” making stops in working-class communities throughout Iowa and Nebraska this week.

Also hitting the road is Ken Martin, the newly elected Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), starting his tours across Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri in order to engage with local Democratic leaders and labor representatives. According to spokesperson Hannah Muldavin, he intends to focus on Musk’s recent involvement with the Department of Labor during discussions with labor officials in Pittsburgh, highlighting how such actions could jeopardize essential economic statistics that affect working citizens.

Recognizing rising frustrations within their party’s core base, many House Democrats are determined to be proactive during this period. The House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee recently released a memo that encourages members to partake in “nine days of visibility,” emphasizing the necessity of hosting at least one town hall and a community event to draw attention to the “devastating impacts” stemming from Trump and Musk’s initiatives.

This wave of protests is particularly crucial as fractious Democrats strive to halt Trump’s in-depth trimming of federal offices, which has led to substantial job losses in public health, education, veteran affairs, and social services. Reports indicate recent layoffs at the Department of Veterans Affairs have included researchers involved in critical fields such as cancer treatments and burn pit exposure. Moreover, over 5,000 staff members are expected to be let go from the Department of Health and Human Services, along with approximately ten percent of the labor force from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In what some view as an overreach, Musk’s team, endorsed by Trump but lacking congressional consent, is also attempting to disband entire agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Education, and the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Trump has justified these cuts as essential measures to eliminate waste and fraud, lauding Musk’s contributions to his Department of Government Efficiency for uncovering evidence of financial mismanagement. An executive order was signed to amplify Musk’s operational scope within the federal government.

Musk defends the rapid and broad cuts proposed across the government while also acknowledging some errors. Congressional Democrats strongly criticize these actions, deeming them hazardous, but without control of both legislative chambers, their options to challenge the Trump administration remain limited. In response, three major progressive organizations — Indivisible, MoveOn, and the Working Families Party — are coordinating this week’s protests to communicate a collective demand for action from representatives in both major political parties.

However, some Democratic leaders might find themselves facing discontent from their constituents as well. MoveOn, with nearly 10 million members, plans to orchestrate numerous rallies outside town halls and congressional offices of members who do not engage in public events. The focus will be on moderate House Republicans who hold pivotal votes against the Trump-Musk agenda, alongside demonstrations aimed at Democratic leaders such as Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer.

According to MoveOn’s executive director Rahna Epting, there is palpable momentum building against the initiatives put forth by Trump, Musk, and their Republican allies, stating, “people are mad as hell.” Meanwhile, the Working Families Party will target protests in districts represented by vulnerable Republicans in places like California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, with speakers who can offer firsthand accounts of the administration’s detrimental impacts.

Ravi Mangla from the Working Families Party emphasized that many Republicans have yet to be held accountable for their actions.