San Luis Obispo locals gathered at the corner of Calle Joaquin and Los Osos Valley Road on March 5 to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order and the financial cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
For two hours, about 100 supporters attended, with featured live folk music covering Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie songs.
“We are trying to push back against what I feel is a terrible presidency led by a terrible man,” said retired structural engineering professor Jake Feldman. “I wish we would legislate with some heart instead of dictate with hate.”
The protest was organized by “#50501” and “Indivisible,” two separate grassroots movements formed in response to Trump’s second election. #50501 assisted with organizing the protest, while Indivisible helped with spreading the word about the event.
DOGE was established by executive order on Jan. 20, two weeks after President Trump’s inauguration for his second term. It has the explicit goal of modernizing federal technology and software, according to the official White House website.
Since its inception, DOGE has subsequently spearheaded the large-scale firing of federal workers and frozen trillions of dollars in federal grants, according to AP News.
“They are just getting into everybody’s busy when they have no busy to be in,” said Jackie Pope, a retired schoolteacher. “It is supposed to be Congress who has the purse, not Elon.”
Many of the signs held by protesters referred to DOGE’s de facto head, Elon Musk. Other topics commonly stated on signage held by protesters included the Russia- Ukraine War and references to President Trump as a “fascist” and a “tyrant.”
“The more of us that are out here protesting, they are going to have to listen,” Pope said. “That’s how change happens, you know, when things are going wrong, one thing we can do is civil disobedience or letting them know.”
Matthew Muren contributed to the video and reporting of this story.