Joe Neguse embraces key role in fight against Trump

• The task force is filing court briefs challenging efforts to dismantle federal agencies and nullify birthright citizenship, and holding hearings across the nation to bolster support from those affected.
• The legal challenges to intervene in trial courts are unprecedented, Neguse says.

Between the lines: Neguse is touting this work at recent town halls to calm wary Democratic supporters who want to see more fight from their party's leaders.

• So far, the task force has filed briefs against the breakup of USAID, the firings of board members at federal agencies, the executive order nullifying birthright citizenship and the dismantling of the Department of Education.

What he's saying: "I would say it's a start … and there's more for us to do," Neguse tells Axios.

Zoom in: In his 2nd District, Neguse sees the impact of the federal job cuts directly. He represents 12 of the 13 federal science labs, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and half of his district includes federal lands.

• "One of my priorities is to do everything I can to compel these agencies — through the appropriations process, through demand letters, through the oversight activities that we're engaged in — to reverse course," he says.