Jesse Ugalde, who served in the Vietnam War, noticed a difference when he entered the Veterans Affairs Department building on Friday.
“People have left,” Ugalde, 74, relies on VA to provide health care, and he talks about VA employees. “I was told they would try to provide services, but it would take longer.”
Ugard took to the streets in Westwood on Saturday with hundreds of other agencies in protest against President Trump’s efforts to cut the size of the federal government, including massive layoffs in Virginia and other agencies.
“It’s not only VA, but we desperately need other plans,” Ugard said. “There’s no reason to do that…I’m fighting for this country, I’m going to fight for it again.”
Angelenos and residents from Southern California attended a parade and rally outside the Wilhel federal building in Wistwood, one of the largest protests in Los Angeles, which took office about two months ago on Saturday since Trump took office.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Protesters headed to the federal building on Wilhill Boulevard around noon to oppose the government’s cuts and what it claimed to be obvious unconstitutional violations.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) told the crowd: “We’re here because we won’t let Trump, we won’t let his co-president Elon Musk reject the U.S. Constitution.”
Musk’s advisory team, called the Department of Government Efficiency, or the threshold, has fired thousands of government workers, frozen billions of dollars in federal spending, and ordered the almost entirety of several federal agencies, including the U.S. International Development Agency and the Department of Education.
Musk, a billionaire whose company is known for “moving quickly and destroying things” ways, viewed wasted government spending as an emergency and existential threat in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.
“This country is going bankrupt,” he said. “If we don’t do something about it, the American ship will sink.”
But the protesters — organized primarily by the Democratic Action Network, which was founded last year — said the plan on the chopping block is far from a waste.
Angelenos and residents from Southern California attended a rally outside the Wilhelm Federal Building in Westwood on Saturday.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Shaun Law-Bowman, 67, worked as a public school teacher for 15 years before being promoted to an administrative position.
“There is no reason. There is no excuse.” She said of Trump’s plan to close the Education Department. “I’m a special ED admin – these are federal funds. There are a lot of kids who need special help and all the money will go away. It’s just evil.”
Earlier this month Federal judge ruled Trump and Musk’s demolition of the USDA may be unconstitutional, believing that the cuts are incompatible with Congress’ will.
Federal judges have Ruled too The government’s firing of probation employees did not follow appropriate layoff procedures, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to order shooting.
The government has criticized these rulings, Vice President JD Vance released on X The judge “is not allowed to control the legitimate power of the executive.”
Angelenos and residents from Southern California attended a peaceful parade and rally outside the Wilhelm Federal Building in Westwood on Saturday.
(Christina House/Los Angeles Times)
Many protesters object Arrest Mahmoud Khalilformer graduate student at Columbia University Pro-Palestinian activist. Algerian citizen Khalil is still in custody in immigration detention, even if he is a green card holder with no criminal record.
Trump, no evidence was provided immediately, Khalil accused Supporting Hamas, the United States believes that this is a “foreign terrorist organization.”
For many, demonstrations are a way to take things into their own hands.
“For all those who say protests, we won’t have civil rights in the 60s. Vietnam may have been ongoing for a longer time without protests,” said Elizabeth Gietema, 28.
