Thousands of protesters gathered in New York City on Presidents’ Day to voice their concerns over Elon Musk’s control of the government, particularly his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The protesters, who were part of a nationwide wave of demonstrations across the US, expressed frustration over DOGE’s access to sensitive data and its dismantling of federal agencies.
The Trump administration created DOGE on its first day in office, giving Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX and Tesla, control over rooting out government fraud. However, instead of tackling inefficiency, DOGE has fired nearly 10,000 federal workers and cut 104 government contracts related to diversity programs. This move has sparked concerns about corruption, national security risks, and data privacy violations.
Protesters claim that Musk’s actions are a veiled attempt at financial power grab, and that his control over the Treasury department’s digital payments system is unprecedented. They argue that Musk’s unelected status makes him vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.
The protests came as part of a larger concern about consolidation of power among billionaires. Opponents of Trump and Musk warn that their actions will lead to more corruption and national security risks.
A wave of legal challenges has been filed against DOGE, alleging a lack of transparency and data privacy violations. The protesters in New York City estimated the number of attendees to be over 10,000, with many holding signs expressing their opposition to Musk’s control and calling for an end to what they see as a coup.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how this crisis will unfold and whether DOGE’s actions can be reversed.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/17/thousands-protest-elon-musks-doge-in-nyc-on-presidents-day