People protest against Elon Musk

Hundreds of protesters, including Democratic lawmakers, gathered outside the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C., on February 5, 2025, to oppose Elon Musk’s growing influence over federal operations. The demonstration, which drew over 1,000 participants[3][10][12], focused on concerns that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had improperly accessed sensitive government data, including Social Security numbers and payment systems[1][2][5].

Key Details of the Protest

Participants and rhetoric:

  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Musk of undermining democracy, stating, “We cannot allow Elon Musk…to secretly take away our privacy”[1].
  • Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called Musk’s access to Treasury data “the most corrupt bargain in American history,” alleging a quid pro quo between Musk and former President Donald Trump[1][3].
  • Protesters chanted “Elon Musk has got to go!” and carried signs such as “No Trump, No Musk, No Fascist USA” and “Muskrats are an invasive species”[1][3][12].

Trigger for outrage:
The protest followed reports that DOGE staff, led by Cloud Software Group CEO Tom Krause, had obtained “read-only access” to Treasury payment systems handling $6 trillion annually, including Social Security and Medicare disbursements[2][5][16]. Critics argued this violated privacy protections and granted Musk undue control over federal operations[2][15].

Government Responses

  • Treasury’s stance: Officials emphasized that the access was limited to reviewing payment integrity and would not disrupt services like Social Security[4][5][16]. Jonathan Blum, a Treasury legislative affairs official, called the payment system “essential” to government functions[4].
  • Democratic pushback: Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden demanded a Government Accountability Office investigation into DOGE’s activities[4][9]. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries introduced the “Stop the Steal” bill to block Musk’s influence over payment systems[1].

Legal and Public Concerns

  • A lawsuit filed by labor unions and advocacy groups seeks to block DOGE’s data access, arguing federal law prohibits sharing taxpayer information with private entities like Musk’s team[2][15].
  • Protesters expressed fears about data exploitation, with one attendee stating Musk could misuse personal information for business purposes[5]. Federal employees also raised alarms about workplace chaos and political targeting[3][15].

The event underscores deepening tensions over Musk’s role in Trump-era government restructuring efforts, which have included merging USAID into the State Department and widespread federal workforce reductions[5][7][14].

Citations:
[1] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/hundreds-gather-in-us-capital-to-protest-elon-musk-s-government-influence/3472061
[2] https://www.dawn.com/news/1889817
[3] https://wtop.com/dc/2025/02/hundreds-gather-outside-treasury-department-to-protest-elon-musks-government-influence/
[4] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/us/politics/elon-musk-federal-payments.html
[5] https://www.voanews.com/a/us-treasury-says-musk-team-has-read-only-access-to-payment-data-/7963412.html
[6] https://www.npr.org/2025/02/03/nx-s1-5285539/doge-musk-usaid-trump
[7] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-creates-new-power-base-washington-with-takeover-us-agencies-2025-02-05/
[8] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/treasury-says-musk-led-team-has-read-only-access-payment-data-2025-02-04/
[9] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/us/politics/elon-musk-federal-payments.html
[10] https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-elon-musk-doge-protest-91281e059b7e0d807a3dbb07ff638ebb
[11] https://www.facebook.com/WJBKFox2Detroit/posts/more-than-1000-protesters-gathered-outside-the-department-of-treasury-building-i/1016658160509421/
[12] https://www.yahoo.com/news/protestors-gather-stop-elon-musk-155506354.html
[13] https://wtop.com/australia/2025/02/the-latest-trump-challenges-bedrocks-of-american-democracy/
[14] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/
[15] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/04/elon-musk-government-legal-doge/
[16] https://apnews.com/article/treasury-systems-trump-bessent-doge-musk-08eb241fc60807b5e1c7b35fcdaee245
[17] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-threaten-obstruct-trumps-agenda-musks-doge-efforts/story?id=118458867
[18] https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-doge-treasury-democratic-resistance-2025-2
[19] https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/treasury-musk-protesters-demand-action-from-democrats/
[20] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-democrats-push-legislation-fight-back-against-trump-policies-2025-02-04/
[21] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usaids-dc-office-shuts-day-musk-trump-ramp-up-attacks-2025-02-03/
[22] https://time.com/7212840/elon-musk-rally-treasury-usaid/
[23] https://whyy.org/articles/trump-musk-dismantling-government-doge-democracy/
[24] https://pressley.house.gov/2025/02/05/watch-pressley-rallies-outside-treasury-to-protest-elon-musks-unlawful-assault-on-our-democracy/
[25] https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/protestors-gather-stop-elon-musks-billionaire-takeover
[26] https://www.voanews.com/a/us-treasury-says-musk-team-has-read-only-access-to-payment-data-/7963412.html
[27] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/hundreds-gather-in-us-capital-to-protest-elon-musk-s-government-influence/3472061
[28] https://www.dawn.com/news/1889817
[29] https://www.pymnts.com/politics/2025/treasury-musk-has-read-only-access-to-us-payment-systems/
[30] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/elon-musk-doge-federal-payments-system.html


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