President Donald Trump’s upcoming speech to Congress will be met with a stark visual reminder of the human impact of his administration’s federal workforce cuts. Several Democratic lawmakers plan to bring fired federal workers affected by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, which swiftly downsized agencies and eliminated jobs, affecting over 100,000 individuals in just six weeks. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will highlight the stories of those like Alissa Ellman, an Army veteran with cancer, and Tiffany Ramos, who lost her job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This move aims to shed light on the personal toll of Trump’s policies, described by Schumer as “cruel and shortsighted.” Other lawmakers, including Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Grace Meng, will also bring affected constituents to the Joint Session. The administration’s rapid and drastic workforce changes have drawn mixed reactions from the public, with polling data showing both approval and disapproval.

Democrats, critical of the abrupt shifts in the federal workforce under Trump and Musk, are strategizing on how to push back against these changes, viewing them as encroachments on the separation of powers. As they regroup after electoral losses, Democrats are navigating how best to resist the administration’s actions while grappling with the consequences of losing control of key political institutions.