Since Donald Trump returned to the White House and initiated a sweeping overhaul of federal programs and agencies, Democratic voters have been left wondering: Where is the opposition?
Democrats remain upset with Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, for aiding Trump in keeping the government operational. Meanwhile, many feel that Representative Hakeem Jeffries’ public demeanor, though composed, doesn’t rise to the moment. While more Democratic politicians are attending town hall meetings and rallies, these efforts feel more like early campaigning for the 2028 presidential race than genuine organizing. Even Senator Cory Booker, who delivered a marathon 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, followed up not by building a movement but by sending out requests for donations through texts and emails.
Democrats might be looking for the next wave of resistance in the wrong places. Instead of waiting for a politician to ignite the spark, maybe it’s time to turn to the people who are already passionate – the federal workers.
With roughly 2.4 million civilian federal employees, these individuals are inherently patriotic and usually politically moderate. Almost 30% are veterans, and all of them pledge to uphold the Constitution. Unlike many wealthy politicians who need to dig into familial history to connect with constituents, federal workers are often working or middle-class individuals, much like those they serve.
This background positions them uniquely to spearhead a new wave of resistance — one that is mainstream, grounded, and capable of mobilizing millions of Americans.
Americans often overlook the benefits provided by federal government services. However, there’s now a growing movement to remind them. In March, off-duty park rangers led demonstrations across over 100 locations—from Abraham Lincoln’s home to Zion National Park. Postal workers, who number about 635,000 nationwide and operate under an independent federal agency, organized rallies in over 200 locations.
Federal employees are also making their voices heard at the U.S. Capitol by testifying at hearings and speaking up at town halls. Groups such as Indivisible and MoveOn, key figures in resisting Trump during his first term, are gearing up for their first large national demonstration in Washington this Saturday, with federal workers and their unions playing a pivotal role. Simultaneously, satellite rallies are planned in more than 1,000 other areas.
Why is this resistance bubbling up from this part of the political sphere? Many Democrats accepted Trump’s re-election with stunned resignation, acknowledging a decisive popular and electoral vote win. However, few anticipated the radical changes Musk implemented within federal structures through his so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
The Project 2025 blueprint for Trump’s new term suggested tighter hiring and retention standards and making it easier to dismiss underperforming civil servants. Yet, it didn’t outline giving an unelected billionaire bureaucrat the authority to dismantle entire agencies and programs overnight—slashing their budgets, terminating many workers without due process, and continuously pressuring others to justify their roles.
Understandably, people are resistant to seeing their life’s work dismissed as collateral damage, a fate Musk seemed to relish for agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
We’re just beginning to see the effects. Many government employees are keeping a low profile, avoiding attention to preserve their jobs. Some are subtly resisting by leaking information to the press. Unions, having had long-standing contracts canceled by Trump, are now challenging these moves in court. Every week, more workers speak up, tell their stories, and organize.
Rosa Lafer-Sousa and Matt Brown, NIH postdoctoral research fellows, are emerging leaders in a fledgling union. Despite prestigious roles, many NIH fellows, living paycheck to paycheck, feel the brunt of salary constraints — Dr. Brown, for instance, earns less than $70,000 after a decade in academia.
The drastic actions of the Department of Government Efficiency have prompted a political awakening among federal workers. Dr. Lafer-Sousa shares how TikTok videos highlighting unjust terminations galvanized her realization that “this is our coalition,” spurring her to join the resistance.
“What bonds us is the oath we took,” she remarked. “We all chose to serve our country.”
An Army Corps of Engineers worker echoed these sentiments when we spoke at a weekly picket outside the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau office in Lower Manhattan. Reflecting on taking an oath to defend the Constitution, he stood with those laid off, knowing their work was crucial in keeping Wall Street accountable and the American system functional.
As protesters, diverse in age and race, marched and waved American flags chanting slogans, one woman held a sign emphasizing the watchdog role of the CFPB in everyday financial transactions.
Since Trump’s return, various essential services have been disrupted—from clinical drug trials and cancer research to mental health services for veterans and special education assistance. The ripple effects are significant.
As Trump and Musk’s agenda continues to unleash chaos, more federal employees will likely voice their concerns, echoing the Joni Mitchell lyric: “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” These workers are not merely protecting their jobs; they’re defending vital government programs that serve everyday Americans. By targeting the federal workforce, Trump and Musk might be inadvertently galvanizing the very group that can articulate the indispensable role of government in citizens’ lives.
