Texans gathered at the State Capitol in Austin to protest the influence of Elon Musk and the actions of the Trump Administration, joining similar demonstrations across the country. The rally, part of the nationwide "Hands Off!" movement, was sparked by Musk’s appointment to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role that has drawn significant criticism.
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE is tasked with cutting federal spending, which has already led to mass layoffs in federal agencies. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laid off around 10,000 full-time employees, a move that has sparked anger and concern among many Americans.
Prominent lawmakers, including U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D) and Greg Casar (D), and State Senator Sarah Eckhardt (D), attended the protest to support the demonstrators’ concerns.
Rep. Doggett addressed the crowd, saying, “We’re here to say ‘hands off’ to Musk and Trump. We want your hands off our democracy.”
Rep. Casar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of standing up for democratic values.
“When he comes for our democracy, we’re going to say, hands off.” Said Casar
The protest wasn’t just about government spending but also about how these cuts could affect essential services like healthcare. Many protesters, like Lynn Lively, expressed frustration over the planned layoffs.
“Wanting to get rid of regular workers, I don’t get it,” Lively said. “We’re going to have a bunch of unemployed people—how is that going to help anything?”
For others, the fear of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare was a major issue. These concerns are particularly pressing given the Trump Administration’s push for spending reductions in critical sectors like healthcare.
Becky Reynolds, a protester with chronic illnesses, voiced her concerns about the rising costs of healthcare.
“I have two chronic illnesses that cost money to take care of, and I already spend several hundred dollars a month on private insurance,” Reynolds said. “If I had to spend more, I would be spending almost a third of my Social Security on private insurance.”
The protest in Austin was just one of many across the United States. Similar rallies took place in Boston and Washington, D.C., drawing thousands of people who share similar fears about the direction the country is heading. “There’s power in people,” Lively said. “We need to go to the streets and show that we are not happy with what’s going on.”
As protests continue to grow nationwide, it’s clear that the public remains deeply concerned about the potential consequences of the Trump Administration's policies and the role of billionaires like Musk in shaping government decisions.
