ST. LOUIS – St. Louis union members and labor leaders gathered Saturday morning at Gateway Arch National Park to protest federal workforce cuts.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) organized the demonstration Saturday to raise awareness about policies and actions that the union says undermine civil servants.
Federal workforce cuts have been a prime focus of the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative of President Donald Trump’s second term that is led by Musk. More commonly known as DOGE, the department aims to reduce government spending and consolidate the federal workforce.
DOGE’s website claims that the department has saved $130 billion through federal workforce cuts as of March 24.
During Saturday’s protest, organizers urged union members, civil servants, and community supporters to stand in solidarity with federal workers. Participants held signs like “Stop the War on America’s Workforce” and “What makes America great? Federal workers.”
The rally involved Everett Kelley (AFGE’s National President), Adolphus Pruitt (President for the St. Louis NAACP chapter) and many other local community and union leaders.
Coincidentally, it was held while other demonstrators gathered outside a Tesla dealership in south St. Louis County to protest Musk’s ties to DOGE.