WASHINGTON − Groups opposed to actions by the Trump administration in recent weeks converged on cities Wednesday across the U.S. to loudly register their discontent, days after widespread rallies and street marches against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
In Washington, two protests near the U.S. Capitol drew hundreds bearing signs and thunderous voices. The protesters marched from streets around the Capitol to the Department of Labor building on Constitution Avenue − where Elon Musk’s DOGE officials were visiting for the day. Musk, a staunch Trump ally, has been executing Trump's cost-cutting initiative to reduce the size of the U.S. government.
Cars passing by the marchers honked in a show of support.
Earlier in the day, several hundred people gathered outside the Capitol for a demonstration against Trump's efforts to diminish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rallygoers bundled up in puffy winter coats, hats, and gloves held up signs against Trump.
“Don’t let democracy die,” “Elon cheats on video games,'' “Checks and balances make America great,” some of the signs read. Demonstrators also chanted at Democratic lawmakers who spoke at the rally, telling them, “Do your job!”Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Democrats plan to fight the new policies in court, in state legislatures, and in Congress. Fellow Virginia Sen. Mark Warner urged protesters to take their concerns to GOP lawmakers as well.
"Don't just show up here," Warner said. "We are only going to break this when we have Republicans willing to stand up as well. Put the pressure not just on us but on everyone, every elected official."
Trump has signed a flurry of executive orders and taken other actions since his Jan. 20 inauguration to remake and reduce the size of America's 2.2 million-strong federal workforce. Diversity programs have been targeted; government web pages have been scrubbed of gender references.
Trump accuses USAID of being 'corrupt':Implies the agency's days are numbered
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