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Mass federal layoffs under President Donald Trump’s administration have triggered a wave of resistance among workers, unions, and activists, with protests erupting across the country and employees turning to social media, lawsuits, and leaks to push back against the cuts.
The administration’s aggressive workforce reduction strategy, led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has already seen more than 100,000 federal workers laid off or pressured into buyouts, with further cuts expected. The effects are rippling across agencies, from the Social Security Administration to national parks, leaving remaining employees demoralized and critical services under strain.
"Trump and Musk have declared war on federal workers," said one Commerce Department employee, posting in a viral Reddit thread where civil servants are organizing resistance. “Before, I thought the idea of a ‘deep state’ was ridiculous. But they are creating exactly the kind of resistance they feared.”
Accountability emails and mounting unrest
The latest flashpoint in the conflict is a series of mandatory “accountability” emails sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), demanding that employees summarize their weekly accomplishments. While some agencies have complied, others, such as the State Department, have refused, fueling confusion over whether noncompliance could lead to termination.
Musk, who has been overseeing the layoffs despite lacking a formal Cabinet position, defended the move on his social media platform X. “The President has made it clear that this is mandatory,” he wrote, arguing that federal agencies are bloated with inefficiency. “A significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all.”
But employees and unions see the demands as intimidation tactics designed to justify further cuts. “They sowed chaos. They made everyone scared for their jobs,” said Amy Paris, a former Health Resources and Services Administration worker laid off last month. “I would have willingly collaborated with their administration. Instead, they radicalized me.”
Protests erupt over agency cuts
As the layoffs continue, federal workers and supporters have taken their outrage to the streets. Thousands gathered at national parks recently, protesting against the mass terminations at the US Forest Service and the National Park Service. Signs declaring “Protect Our Parks” were held high as demonstrators decried understaffing that could lead to unsafe conditions for visitors.
Other agencies have also seen public backlash. Outside the Department of the Treasury and the US Agency for International Development, fired workers have rallied against what they call politically motivated cuts. The National Treasury Employees Union has planned a large demonstration near the Capitol.
Despite legal challenges, the administration remains firm. “Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “He will not be deterred from making government more efficient and accountable."
With the administration now preparing a “reduction in force” that will see even deeper job cuts, the battle between federal workers and the White House is set to escalate further. For many civil servants, it is no longer just about saving their jobs, it’s about defending the integrity of the public sector itself.
