Fired federal workers to join Democrats at Trump's speech to Congress
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Maryland Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume protests DOGE during a press conference against the House Republicans' budget bill at the U.S. Capitol last month. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Some Democrats are inviting fired federal workers to be their guests to President Trump's joint speech to Congress on Tuesday.
Why it matters: The move is an effort from Democrats to show they stand with the thousands of federal employees impacted by the federal government's job cuts and funding freezes.
Catch up quick: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) privately urged Democrats last week to invite fired federal workers as their guests, Axios first reported.
- Schumer will bring Alissa Ellman, a disabled veteran who was recently. fired from her position at the Buffalo, New York Veterans Affairs office.
Here's a list of other Democrats bringing recently impacted federal workers to the address.
- Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) will bring Ben Vizzachero, a terminated U.S. Forest Service employee.
- Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y. ) announced that her guest will be Luke Graziani, an Army veteran fired from a local VA hospital.
- Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) announced he will bring a constituent, Nancy Bolan, who was fired from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) will bring a 20-year Army veteran terminated from a VA health center due to a directive from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
- Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) announced he will bring Gabriel D'Alatri, a Marine veteran who was recently fired from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) will bring Kyle Rahn, a disabled Army veteran who worked for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
- Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) will have Jamie Werner, a recently terminated specialist with the United States Forest Service (USFS).
- Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) announced he will bring West Covina City Councilman Ollie Cantos, a target of DOGE cuts in his position with the Department of Education.
- Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) will bring a recently fired scientist who will not be identified due to fears of retaliation.
- Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) will have James Diaz, a disabled veteran recently terminated from the IRS.
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) will bring Claire Bergstresser, who was recently fired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) will have Jessica Fair, a recently terminated National Parks Service (NPS) employee.
- Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced he will bring Jason King, a disabled veteran recently fired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
- Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) will have Ashley Ranalli, a fired NPS ranger.
- Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) announced he will bring Alexzandria Hunt, an Army veteran terminated from a VA medical center.
- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will bring Michael Missal, a fired VA inspector general.
- Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) will have Isabella Isaksen, an Army veteran fired from the USFS.
- Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) will bring Kate Severson, a fired park ranger.
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced that she will bring Doug Kowalewski, a recently terminated National Science Foundation (NSF) employee.
- Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) invited Amelia Huffman, a Navy veteran who was recently fired from USFS.
What's next: President Trump is scheduled to deliver his joint address to Congress Tuesday at 9 pm ET.
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is slated to give the Democratic response to Trump's speech shortly after the president's remarks end.
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional lawmakers and their guests.
