New Public Awareness Campaign Spotlights Trump-Initiated Costs for American Workers, Inefficiencies and Corruption of Trump-Musk DOGE Efforts 

Washington D.C. – Democracy Forward launched a public awareness campaign today, as more than 154,000 non-partisan, independent federal workers have left their jobs pursuant to the Trump-initiated “deferred resignation program.” The public servants departing government take with them decades of expertise that will take more than a generation to rebuild, endangering countless essential services that keep Americans safe and thriving. The campaign is a reminder that President Trump and Elon Musk reportedly spent more than $15 billion of taxpayer dollars as part of its so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) agenda to drive committed public servants from their jobs.  

Democracy Forward’s campaign, which includes social media content and new light projections across Washington, D.C. filmed by Getty Images, comes as President Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director (and Project 2025 architect) Russ Vought have announced an intention to play games with the civil service as the President marches the American people into a government shutdown. In addition to furloughs that would result if the government shuts down, Vought has also suggested that additional employees could be laid off through further Reductions in Force (RIFs) – part of the administration’s continued undervaluing of the federal workforce. Democracy Forward today previewed that any attempts to RIF employees will be met with rapid litigation.

“Plain and simple: if the President wants to play games with the civil service during a government shutdown, he will see the American people in court,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Since inauguration, President Trump and his administration have pursued a harmful Project 2025 agenda, attacking community programs and charities, lawyers, schools, private companies, law firms, judges, universities, public servants, and the programs, foundations, and civil servants working to deliver services to people and keep communities safe. At every step of the way, our team of lawyers and advocates at Democracy Forward has met the administration’s actions with swift legal challenges, suing and winning in the court of law and the court of public opinion to protect them from the administration’s retaliation. This time will be no different.” 

“The potential government shutdown and massive exodus of government employees imperils the ability of the government to deliver the services people rely on every day,” said Rob Shriver, Managing Director of Democracy Forward’s Civil Service Strong program. “We have been honored to collaborate with so many exceptional partners through Civil Service Strong to offer a wide range of resources to help current and recent federal employees, as well as the people who rely on the services they provide, during this chaotic period. We will always support civil servants who dedicate their lives to making our country a better place.” 

Democracy Forward’s Civil Service Strong initiative is a collaborative effort of people, organizations, and communities across the country who are joining together in support of our civil servants. This effort is committed to supporting a career, non-partisan civil service and the people who power it through a comprehensive response to the Trump-Vance administration’s dismantling of the civil service via advocacy, storytelling, organizing, resources, data, and policy. Civil Service Strong includes a broad, inclusive coalition of organizations committed to defending, supporting, and rebuilding a nonpartisan, professional civil service, and the coalition unites stakeholders across democracy, labor, legal, policy, and good government spaces, coordinating efforts to protect civil servants, strengthen public institutions, and advance a vision of government that works for all Americans. For more information, visit https://www.civilservicestrong.org/about-us. 

Democracy Forward also recently launched the Civil Service Defense and Innovation Fellowship Program to elevate the voices and expertise of former public servants, incubate talent, build innovative reforms for the future, and bring attention to the impact of the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to dismantle the federal government from within. The Fellowship Program engages former career civil servants and political appointees with deep expertise in areas, such as the environment, national security, education, and labor. During a 12-month term, fellows will produce research and analysis documenting the scope and consequences of cuts to federal agencies, and develop and incubate innovative work to inform future policymaking and to rebuild government capacity. The announcement of the first class of fellows is expected in the coming weeks – but because of unprecedented interest, Democracy Forward plans to increase the size of the class, with more details coming soon.

Civil Service Strong is coordinating and supporting a series of efforts, including: 

• You Are Not Alone: Civil Service Strong, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the Partnership for Public Service launched the You Are Not Alone Project over the summer, a first-of-its-kind rapid response initiative to support federal employees impacted by RIFs and other job loss and reassignments initiated by the Trump-Vance administration. The You Are Not Alone Project provides federal workers with immediate, accessible guidance; connections to legal, career, and personal support; and ongoing assistance to help navigate the challenges of job loss or reassignment. The initiative’s pilot program is already underway for U.S. Department of State employees affected by recent RIFs, and will expand to other agencies that roll out additional reductions and reassignments. In addition to providing direct assistance, the You Are Not Alone Project will create opportunities for displaced federal employees to share institutional knowledge and join talent initiatives designed to strengthen the federal workforce in the future. For more information, visit https://www.civilservicestrong.org/resources/you-are-not-alone-a-resource-guide-for-civil-servants-affected-by-the-supreme-court-s-rif-decision. 
• Rise Up Legal Defense Network: Democracy Forward, federal workers’ unions and allied organizations are fighting back in court against the unlawful RIFs of federal workers, but thousands still need individual legal advice and representation. To meet this need, Democracy Forward, the AFL-CIO and We The Action, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the American Constitution Society (ACS), the Partnership for Public Service, and others launched Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network to mobilize and train thousands of lawyers to provide pro bono legal guidance to federal workers. For more information, visit workerslegaldefense.org. 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.