ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A crowd gathered inside the Veach-Baley Federal Complex in Asheville on Wednesday, protesters taking aim at Project 2025 and Elon Musk’s role in the United States government.
The rally was billed as a call to action by Stronger Together WNC-N/Weaverville Indivisible group, which planned to march at U.S. Sen. Ted Budd’s office in the federal building.
“But he’s not here. No one’s in his office,” one of the protesters said.
So, they took their signs, many calling out Elon Musk’s role in the government, and headed into the lobby of the federal building.
“If we don’t stand up to what’s going on with Project 2025, what’s going to happen? Elon Musk is basically breaking into the Treasury (Department). We have to stand up,” a man who asked to only be identified as Stan said outside the federal building.
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A movement opposing the early actions of Trump and his administration, including Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, took off online, with protests planned across the country Wednesday.
Trump’s dismantling of longstanding programs and opening American citizens’ most sensitive information in the Treasury Department to Musk’s DOGE team was seen by many as an unprecedented breach of privacy, which has sparked widespread public outcry.
Tom Ray, who worked for the United States Agency for International Development for years, was particularly upset by the Trump administration’s near-total freeze on all foreign aid. Musk has said he intends to close the independent agency that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.
“To dismantle USAID is illegal. It was created by Congress, and if anybody should have the power to disolve it, it’s Congress,” Ray said. “I don’t understand how he’s been allowed to go into classified sections of that building. I have no idea who has given him permission. I believe it’s illegal and something must be done.”
Mary Pat Kieffer, of Asheville, said she attended the protest Wednesday because she and her husband used to work for USAID. Kieffer also worked for PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).
“We’ve saved millions of lives, millions of families with these programs. I think it’s criminal that it’s Elon Musk, who no one voted for, who is taking over the government.”
The rally Wednesday came just days after hundreds of demonstrators walked through downtown Asheville to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies.