Thousands of people attend a protest at the U.S. Capitol against actions taken by Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to radically shrink the federal government in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2025. Thousands of federal employees have been fired and entire agencies shuttered, including U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Photo by Allison Bailey/NurPhoto)

American flags DC DOGE Department of Government Administration District of Columbia Donald J. Trump Donald Trump Elon Musk President’s Day Trump US USA United States United States Capitol Washington administration against anti-fascism authoritarian authoritarianism autocrat democracy demonstration demonstrators dome fascism federal firing firings government grassroots president protest protesters protestors termination terminations tyranny protest U.S. Capitol Elon Musk Donald Trump Department of Government Efficiency DOGE federal government Washington DC February 17 2025 federal employees fired agencies shuttered U.S. Agency for International Development Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Allison Bailey NurPhoto government downsizing political demonstration public outcry job loss agency closures government reform political activism public sector government policy federal workforce political tension government restructuring policy changes public protest political figures.