ON THE SCENE: Democrats of Indian River Protest Against Government Efficiency
A President’s Day protest against Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
During the rush half-hour in Vero Beach at the corner of 58th Ave. and State Road 60, the Democrats of Indian River staged a “Not My President” protest. From 4:30-5:30, over 100 local Democrats and their guests held signs and were led by bullhorn maestro, Jared Willis, who was broadcasting the chant, “Make trans safe!” when our on-the-scene reporter arrived. The event was part of a National Day of Protest coordinated by the Democrat Party and the 5050-1 Reddit group across all 50 states and US territories. While 5050-1 describes itself as grassroots, Democrats were mobilized across the USA.
Many protestors wore their local party t-shirts. The Democrats of Indian River were largely protesting Elon Musk’s involvement in the established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Along with typical anti-Trump sloganeering of the 47th president, Mr. Musk’s involvement allows for Trump detractors to the tired claims that billionaires and tyrants are taking over. While interviewing a protestor, another interrupted and dramatically stated, “We didn’t vote for Elon-knee-uh (sic).”
The vocal protestor’s name was Raye Cross. Following up with Ms. Cross, the question was asked, “Who did you vote for?”
Ms. Cross, responded, “We elected no one! No one in the office — he is not our President!”
The reporter further inquired, “Elonnia (sic) who?”
“Elonnia Trump!” said Ms. Cross, adding, “And his girlfriend, Donald Musk!”
The conversation found at the protest wasn’t all vitriol and attempted proletariat poetry to define the current emotional grind Democrats may feel over Mr. Musk with his DOGE savants and techies applying actual mathematics to the US Government budget. The typical buzz phraseology among the protestors was that the USA is in a ‘constitutional crisis.’ It is the terminology of legacy media. You can watch the montage of all the left leaning punditry exclaim it here. Two protestors, Gail and Bill Evans, were asked about this terrible legal conundrum they believe exists in our government. They had two signs referring to the chaos and corruption of Trump and Musk.
They were asked, “DOGE was formed under a 2014 executive order of Barack Obama forming the US Digital Service, how is that corruption?”
Mr. Evans replied, “At the end of the day, he (Elon Musk) is not a government agency.”
Reporter interrupts, “But, DOGE is. Legally, it is…”
Mr Evans abruptly responded, “This interview is over.”
The assimilation of DOGE
The original United States Digital Service (USDS) was set up in the Executive Office of the President through a 2014 executive order. It was on the heals of the great catastrophic failure of the US Government to successfully launch a $400 million website, healthcare.gov, in 2013. It’s first lead administrator was Mikey Dickerson, a former Google engineer who joined the ACA’s website team to fix it.
On January 20, 2025, Mr. Trump repurposed the USDS and named it the United States DOGE Service, which remains in the Executive Office of the President. His executive order’s purpose states, “To implement the President’s DOGE Agenda, by modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”
Yet, Mr. Trump put Elon Musk, an obviously qualified engineer—he once paralleled parked a rocket returning from space—only as an advisor. Yes, Mr. Musk is not the DOGE Administrator. There are fourteen states currently suing the Trump Administration over violations of the Appointments Clause. The case in US District Court for the District of Columbia is named New Mexico et al. versus Elon Musk in his official capacity, et al. According to an affidavit filed Monday, Director of Office Administration, Joshua Fisher, shared that Elon Musk’s role is an employee of the White House Office. DOGE is not in the White House Office. Mr. Musk is a Senior Advisor to the President. Mr. Fisher wrote, “Like other Senior White House Advisors, Mr. Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself. Mr. Musk can only advise the President and communicate the President’s directives.”
President Obama’s 2014 executive order created the legal infrastructure for DOGE teams to have access throughout the government information technology systems. The right person in charge can follow the money from the Executive Office building. Mr. Trump’s modification to the order calls for 3 things. It will establish a Temporary Organization. The order reads, “The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall be dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization shall terminate on July 4, 2026.”
Mr. Trump promised in many rallies to bring about rapid realignment by America’s 250th birthday. The DOGE website is live and, so far, has confirmed nearly $55 Billion in savings. It shares the full structure of the government, a regulations section and audits of contracts in various departments. For example, it shows the cancellation of 3 contracts totaling $75 million at the USDA. Each cancelled $25 million contract award was for professional DEI training. Among other easily accessed information, there is a Top 10 list for savings by agency.
Secondly, Mr. Trump’s executive order establishes DOGE Teams in each agency. The order states, “Each DOGE Team will typically include one DOGE Team Lead, one engineer, one human resources specialist, and one attorney. Agency heads shall ensure that DOGE Team Leads coordinate their work with USDS and advise their respective Agency Heads on implementing the President’s DOGE Agenda.”
Finally, the order provides for “Modernizing Federal Technology and Software to Maximize Efficiency and Productivity.”
More concerns of local Democrats
Laurie Hawkins was a protestor on 58th Avenue who held a sign that read “Follow the Law.” The Sunshine Journal asked why she thought Mr. Trump was not following the law. She responded that creating DOGE was unprecedented and there is nothing in the Constitution that allowed him to create the department “with a stroke of a pen.”
When she was informed of how DOGE was constructed she said that she would do more research. The pleasantly reasonable conversation took a turn into illegal immigration and to the spending pause for USAID. Ms. Hawkins summed up her views by saying, “the way that I see [Mr. Trump] work, eliminating things with a stroke of a pen scares me. He has threatened to do it with the Department of Education. Maybe it is more rhetoric than his actions, but it’s too close…. I am all about eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. I have no issues with that.”
As of this writing, The head of the Social Security Administration (SSA), Michelle King, resigned over a dispute with the DOGE Team. She failed to provide the team with the data they requested. Ms. King had been employed for over 30 years at SSA.
Democrats are planning more nationwide protests in the coming weeks. One is even a work walkout. If you work for the US Government, don’t let DOGE see you.
UPDATE: Since publishing this story, Judge, Tanya Chutkan, of the US District Court for the District of Columbia has DENIED the plaintiff’s motion for a Temporary Restraining Order in New Mexico et al. versus Elon Musk in his official capacity, et al. saying that it cannot be known if any of the plaintiffs will suffer permanent harm as a result of the actions of DOGE.
Great article. Definitely leaves one scratching their head when considering the D’s talking points….
Again, we’re back to “ignorance is bliss” to some.