Over 10,000 demonstrators converged in New York City on Presidents’ Day to express their opposition to the current Trump administration and the actions of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in particular.

This protest was one of several that took place across the country on Monday, coinciding with smaller demonstrations at Tesla dealerships nationwide over the weekend.

Protesters interviewed by TechCrunch in Washington Square Park voiced concerns about DOGE’s access to sensitive data of millions of Americans and the dismantling of federal agencies. They viewed Musk’s involvement with DOGE as an attempt to gain financial power and expressed frustration that an unelected official like Musk has significant control over the federal government.

Dmitri, a 53-year-old architect who wished to remain anonymous, told TechCrunch, “I think it’s extremely dangerous that Musk has access to our personal data. He’s a futurist fanboy trying to implement his sci-fi fantasies, and he has the resources to cause massive damage. He’s tampering with something he doesn’t fully understand.”

Tom, a 55-year-old retired teacher who held a sign that read “No one voted for Musk,” told TechCrunch, “While I disagree with the fact that many Americans voted for Trump, it’s undeniable that no one voted for Musk.” Tom didn’t believe the average MAGA supporter voted for Musk and expressed concern that DOGE’s cuts would harm Americans on a state, local, and individual level.

Tom stated, “The consolidation of power under billionaires is a frightening thing.”

Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to establish DOGE, tasking Musk with identifying and eliminating government waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Since its inception, DOGE has dismissed nearly 10,000 federal workers who managed various tasks, including federal lands and veteran care. An additional 75,000 workers have accepted the Trump administration’s buyout offer, which provided eight months’ pay and benefits in exchange for their resignation. DOGE has also terminated 104 government contracts related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs and disbanded the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Trump granted Musk’s DOGE team access to the Treasury department’s digital payments system, which controls trillions of dollars in payments to Americans, including Social Security benefits and tax refunds, despite concerns about their security clearances, cybersecurity practices, and the legality of Musk’s actions.

Supporters of Trump and Musk praise their efforts to eliminate corruption, inefficiency, and red tape. However, opponents argue that DOGE’s methods are flawed and will lead to increased corruption and national security risks.

A wave of legal challenges has followed, alleging a lack of transparency and data privacy violations.

The protesters in New York began at Union Square and marched to Washington Square Park, gathering under the iconic memorial arch dedicated to George Washington. They chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go” and held signs representing various causes, with Musk and DOGE being a common theme.

The New York Police Department estimated the attendance to be over 10,000.

Victoria, a 37-year-old teacher, held a sign that read “Stop the coup,” echoing comments made by Arizona’s attorney general, Kris Mayes, who stated, “In the U.S., we appeal rulings we disagree with – we don’t ignore court orders or threaten judges with impeachment just because we don’t like the decision. This is a coup, plain and simple.”

Victoria said, “This isn’t about disagreeing with Republican policies; it’s about Trump handing over power to Elon Musk, an unelected individual.”

As protesters played music and chanted, a 39-year-old small business owner, Corwin, stated, “Musk is conflicted, and it’s clear his antiregulatory attitudes benefit him personally and financially.”

Musk has targeted agencies for reduction or dismantling that regulate industries where his companies operate. He aims to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which would regulate X’s expansion into financial services, and has expressed intentions to go after the Federal Aviation Administration, an agency he has clashed with before and which regulates SpaceX.

Musk’s actions at the federal level have affected Tesla’s brand image. During the company’s 2024 fourth-quarter earnings, analyst Thomas Monteiro noted that the hype around Tesla is trending downward due to “severe brand devaluation.”

Stories have emerged of people selling their Teslas in protest of Musk’s actions, and some Cybertruck owners have reported vandalism and harassment. Tesla’s sales have begun to plummet in Europe after a gesture by Musk at the president’s inauguration was interpreted as a Nazi salute, leading to calls for a Tesla boycott in Poland and Germany.