![About 150 people representing Indivisible Mandarin, Beaches Activists Movement, Indivisible St. Johns County and other groups, gathered for a rally Wednesday February 26, 2025 in front of the Tesla dealership on Atlantic Blvd and Abess Blvd. in Jacksonville, Fla. They were protesting the access that Elon Musk has on American’s personal data which they feel is a threat to our privacy. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]2025](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/16826349/35c4174e45f4b985d283a841d563ac934e6ba91de86052c0a5c4064eb3b8222a)
Overview
- Hundreds protested outside SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, opposing Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- The Department of Government Efficiency, created by President Trump, aims to drastically cut federal spending and workforce, drawing criticism for its sweeping impact on government agencies and programs.
- Critics allege Musk’s role in DOGE poses conflicts of interest, given his business ties to government contracts, and raises concerns about national security risks from potential misuse of sensitive data.
- Protesters voiced fears about the defunding of programs supporting marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ rights and social welfare initiatives, as part of the department's cost-cutting measures.
- Musk and Trump defend the initiative as necessary to reduce the national debt, with Musk describing the changes as 'common sense' reforms to streamline government operations.