Battle in the Beltway: Bureaucratic coup underway — workers mount resistance with support from locals; DC residents speak on out ban of gender affirming care at Children’s National Hospital; We Power DC is expanding communications and outreach with a refreshed website
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
Battle in the Beltway: Bureaucratic coup underway — workers mount resistance with support from locals
Last week, Donald Trump
initiated a bureaucratic coup long dreamed of by conservatives and
capitalists. Elon Musk, who is not a government employee and has not
been approved by the Congress, seized complete access to Treasury
records alongside a group called the “Department of Government
Efficiency” (DOG-E). Credible reporting
alleges that he and the group also have direct access over payment
processing and approval within the Treasury itself. None of this is
legal, and workers are sounding the alarm — but without firm resistance
from the Congress or the Courts, systemic response is unlikely. (On
February 5, a federal order was imposed
to limit DOG-E’s access to Treasury data; it is unclear if this
directive will actually be followed — without Congressional oversight,
Trump and friends have a comfortable range of motion.)
Over
the past week, Musk has been leading teams of fascists through
government agencies to clear out sensitive government data and public
records. Reporting by Wired suggests
that these teams are staffed by literal teenagers who have been groomed
for treason by right-wing billionaires eager to destabilize and subsume
the federal government. Included in this push was a dubious proposal
floated to workers to resign. On Thursday, the order was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in Massachusetts until a hearing on Monday afternoon.
News
has been fast moving, but awareness of the macro-fight will make
following the day-by-day updates easier. In an hour-long live-stream
earlier this week (find the recording on IG, YouTube),
NYC elected and democratic socialist Rep. Ocasio-Cortez debriefed the
objectives of Trump and the Republicans. Republicans have long dreamed
of assaulting federal agencies that regulate corporate power and provide
essential government services to the people; the confusion created by
Trump across the government (trade wars, immigration orders, and a
flurry of executive orders) is to provide cover for the conservatives’
plot. An additional ambition, Ocasio-Cortez warned, is cutting “enough”
government spending in their Administrative assault to justify
continuing Trump’s tax cuts on the wealthy and permanently hobbling
government welfare programs. Medicaid, which covers over 91 million
Americans, is a primary target.
Metro DC DSA's chapter publication, Washington Socialist,has published a plea from a federal worker clarifying their disorienting experience over the last week. Career civil servants are on the front lines of this fight, organizing resistance to
Trump & DOG-E’s unconstitutional putsches in their workplaces. Locals have been organizing popular support for
the workers, with protests growing over the past week:
On
Wednesday, a plan by Musk’s crew to invade and intimidate the
Department of Labor was leaked. In response, workers organized a rapid
turnout in front of the Department of Labor, forcing DOG-E to retreat to
a virtual meeting. The rapid response was attended by pro-labor House
Reps, including (non-voting) DC Rep Holmes-Norton and democratic
socialist Rep. Tlaib.
Local
protest groups have been launching daily protests in front of the
Office of Personnel Management (1900 E St NW) between 7:30 – 8:30am, and
are planned daily and set to continue over the next week.
On Tuesday, over a thousand people rallied outside the Treasury
in response to DOG-E’s accessing of Treasury data. The event was widely
attended by Democratic Party leaders in the Senate and House.
Hundreds of protesters rallied
at the Capitol building on Wednesday in support of USAID, which was
shut down this week in an illegal maneuver by the Trump administration.
The agency coordinates aid and relief programming on behalf of the US
government, and the rapid shut-down puts a cascade of programming
(especially on combating infectious disease and AIDs in foreign
countries) at risk. Most workers have been put on leave by Friday
evening, as contractors expect to be put on leave.
AFGE and AFSCME filed a lawsuit
this week challenging Trump’s efforts to politicize the civil service,
asserting that President Trump illegally exceeded his authority in
unilaterally rolling back regulations issued by President Biden that
protect the rights of the civil service. The suit also names the Office
of Personnel Management for its role in (not, as the case may be)
adhering to protocols that regulate and govern federal agencies.
Outrage
is continuing to grow as evidence of Musk & DOG-E’s affronts are
revealed to the greater public. The techno-fascists now have their eyes
on the National Weather Service in a bid to privatize weather
forecasting and restrict national research on climate change. From WSJ: Aides with Elon Musk’s DOGE have been accessing data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “in an attempt to uncover fraud.”
The worker-owned coop The 51sthas been covering local response to these actions on their digital pub.
Federal
unions are planning a mass rally against DOG-E on Tuesday, February
11th at 11:45am. The action, prompted by AFGE, has been endorsed by
Metro DC DSA and the chapter’s Labor working group is helping to
coordinate attendance among locals. Readers can fill out this form to sign up for attendance and receive updates, and members of Metro DC DSA with access to our slack channel can check out #announcements and #action-alerts channel for DSA endorsed events. The AFL-CIO has also launched a new Department of People Who Work for a Living to counter DOG-E’s corrupt influence across the federal government.
DC residents speak out on ban of gender affirming care at Children’s National Hospital
Last Thursday, Children’s National Hospital paused gender affirming care for trans youth and children under 19, citing Trump’s EO
released two days earlier. The hospital cited their “compassionate and
comprehensive care in accordance with the law,” however, DC Human Rights
Law is clear and unequivocally requires gender affirming care not be
denied or withheld. Locals quickly organized a response. On February
2nd, locals met at Bruce Monroe Community park and marched
over to Children’s National Hospital, in protest of the hospital
administration’s capitulation to pausing trans healthcare. Included in
the hundred people convened at the park was Montgomery County Council
District 5 rep and DSA member Kristin Mink.
Metro DC DSA’s Bodily Autonomy working group is now calling
on the DC Attorney General and local Department of Health and Human
Services to hold Children’s Hospital and all DC health care providers to
their obligations required by DC law. Like AG Letitia James in New York,
the state government should publicly notify Children’s Hospital of
their obligations under DC law and demand resumption of care.
Locals of Maryland, Virginia and DC are encouraged to fill out this form
to engage in the mass-email push being organized by BAWG. So far, over
2.5k people have sent a notice through the form. Any response from DC’s
AG or HHS Department will be disclosed in future updates here.
We Power DC is expanding communications and outreach with a refreshed website
We Power DC,
the District’s socialist-led campaign for a publicly-owned power
utility, has redesigned its website. It is now easier to connect with
the team, stay up on events, and keep informed on everything pro-power
and anti-Pepco.
You can read the latest dispatches from We Power DC here and keep up to date with bi-monthly emails. We Power has an action-packed 2025 in the works. First up will be a February 22nd Wheatpasting Event,
the first of 2025. The campaign will be focusing on informing the
public around Pepco’s corruption and dirty reliance on fossil fuels. The
wheatpasting and launch of this website and communications arm is
aiming to inform the DC public that we are better off without
investor-owned Pepco, and that there is a public power alternative for
our grid. Those interested in participating in We Power’s outreach event can fill out this form.
BRIEFS
Defend the Civil Service from fascist meddling — Tuesday, February 11
In the face of Trump’s
frontal assault on government workers — leaking their private data to
Musk and his crypto crew, ignoring work from home protections, pushing
unfunded severance packages, and of course, funding freezes and layoffs —
the American Federation of Government Employees is holding a rally on Tuesday at 12pm.
Attendees should plan to meet at the Hyatt Regency (400 New Jersey Ave
NW) at 11:30am. Congressional Democrats so far seem unable and unwilling
to process (much less oppose) the drastic collapse of democratic
institutions, leaving a renewed labor movement as perhaps our best
weapon against capitalism in decay. RSVP to fight against DOG-E here.
The Trumpers hate and fear labor: “In a Monday memo, the Office of
Personnel Management said allowing government employees to telework is a
“management right” that lays [sic] outside of the bargaining table.” [POLITICO via Portside]
“Political economists have a name for [these illegal events]: state capture.
State capture occurs when wealthy private interests influence a
government to such a degree that they can freely direct policy decisions
and public funds for their own benefit or for the benefit of their
ideological fellow travelers (or both).” NYT
Rockville City Council and Mayor to discuss real estate as tenants organize to discuss support for rent stabilization — Monday, February 10
In July, the Rockville City
Council and Mayor voted to end discussion of rent stabilization, leaving
Rockville renters unprotected from large rent increases. Despite this,
tenants are continuing to advocate for rent stabilization. On February
10, the Council and Mayor will hold a discussion about real estate and
development. Socialists and housing advocates are calling on tenants
to participate in a community forum before the hearing to share how
Rockville renters and residents are impacted by housing affordability
and the private real estate market. RSVP to the hearing here.
Feeling demoralized? Want to fight back with DSA? Come to our campaign fair and get involved — Wednesday, February 26
It is easy to feel hopeless
and overwhelmed as the world crumbles in front of us. The best response
is to come together with other DSA members and fight for the better
world we all deserve. Our campaign fair will provide an overview of how
MDC DSA operates and feature opportunities to speak directly to people
who run our campaigns. RSVP to the fair here.
Legislative proposal in DC would create new governing board to oversee crime intervention
Introduced by Chairman Mendelson on January 13, B26-0052 - Evidence-Based Gun Violence Reduction and Prevention Act of 2025 establishes a Group Violence Intervention Initiative Governing Board composed of the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. The proposal will structure a Strategy and Implementation Team under the board, to include twelve members, ten government officials and two representatives from community-based organizations. These two bureaucratic bodies will oversee a program allowing the MPD to employ civilian personnel to investigate burglary, motor vehicle theft, forgery, fraud, other property crime investigations, and cold cases. Further, the Mayor will be authorized to give notice to the owner of property with “criminal blight” that they must make a good faith effort to make changes to their property to prevent the crime within at least 30 days of the notice or be charged with the cost of the Mayor correcting the issue as a tax against the property. Medicaid benefits will also be made available to any Medicaid beneficiaries who have been exposed to community violence, a personal history of injury sustained from community violence, or been referred by a medical professional as at an elevated risk of violent injury or retaliation resulting from another act of community violence.
A member of Metro DC DSA’s Abolition working group spoke with a DC Council staffer who helped draft the bill. They explained that the bill's “criminal blight” provisions are intended to tax vacant homes, which are primarily used for drug and firearm sales. If the bill moves forward, the Abolition working group is considering submitting suggested changes to the bill to add more community partners to the oversight board of the MPD civilian officers, and to add language to prevent the misuse of the criminal blight sections.
Local civil rights leader among dead in last week plane crash
As of Wednesday, the remains of the 67 killed
in the January 29th mid-air collision over the Potomac River have been
recovered. Among those who died was local activist and civil rights
leader Kiah Duggins. Kiah was an attorney with the Civil Rights Corps
and played an instrumental role in organizing and educating activists to
resist expansion of the carceral state. Kiah had spoken at Metro DC
DSA’s “Beyond Crime” teach-in over the Secure DC policing bill last
spring, in addition to our Public Safety 101 night school event in
October. An obituary posted online by Harvard Law School provides anecdotes memorializing her work.
Political Engagement Committee applications due February 13
The Political Engagement Committee, which oversees Metro DC DSA’s electoral organizing and legislative advocacy work, is seeking new members for 2025. The PEC works to ensure the chapter’s endorsement process runs smoothly, coordinate electoral canvasses and fundraisers, and maintain relationships with socialist electeds in the DMV. The five-person body must have three current Steering members (including branch delegates and the YDSA delegate) as well as at least one member who resides in DC, MD or VA. The Steering Committee will consider applications and intends to vote on the new PEC members at their February 18 meeting. Those interested should apply by February 13 at 11:59pm ET using this form, which has more information about the PEC and the application process. You can also reach out to [email protected] with questions, ask in #steering on Slack, or message Bakari W about the process.
Correction: rapid rehousing bill from last week’s update
A quick note from our friends at Jews United for Justice regarding DC’s rapid rehousing bill mentioned last week.
The District currently has a rapid rehousing which connects unhoused
persons with housing — a success Mayor Bowser and the DC Council are
quick to promote — but its implementation has largely failed to secure long-term housing for its participants. According to the City Paper,
42% of people reentering DC’s homeless service system had previously
used rehousing vouchers. Bill B26-0050, which was referenced last week,
would add reforms to the existing program in an attempt to address those
shortcomings.
MDC
DSA members: Join our all-member Slack for real-time info on working
group and campaign events, convo, and inspiration. Email
[email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get Slack
access. Chapter members are also invited to read — and edit — MDC DSA’sinternal wiki. Email [email protected] to get set up, or ask in #helpdesk.
MDC DSA Publications is information central for not only MDC DSA but the entire DMV left. #publications (our working group’s Slack channel) is always ready to onboard new socialist communicators. Weekly Updates like this one are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are on the web here. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update here. Submit your Update suggestions or chapter political blog REDBUG tips to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers articles on a quarterly schedule; the Fall 2024 edition is now live and will be updated on a rolling basis. Next quarterly issue copy deadline is February 28. Check our archive to see what we write — and what you can write. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected]. Get your socialist self on the record. Donate to our Comradery page if you would like to financially support socialist publishing in the DMV.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Free DC Campaign Orientation on February 11
Free
DC is a new campaign setting out to build the power it will take to
protect the people of DC and our communities from a hostile
administration. Join this in-person campaign orientation on February 11
from 6 – 8pm for an overview of what this effort is about, their plan to
win, and how you can be part of it. RSVP for the orientation here.
ReDelicious Book Club on February 16
Join
ReDelicious for their first book club meeting. On February 16 from 2 –
3pm at Edgewood Community Farm, discuss pages 1 – 63 of Freedom Farmers by
Monica White, which explores the history of Black agricultural co-ops
as a means for resistance and liberation in the Jim Crow era South.
Interested volunteers can drop by between 12 – 2pm to work at the farm. RSVP for the book club here.
Solidarity Economy Social Hour on Sunday, February 23
Beloved
Community Incubator, which helps support worker cooperatives in the
city, is planning a happy hour from 1-4pm at Wundergarten DC.
Worker-owners, co-op members, union members, mutual aid organizers and
anyone curious about the worker-cooperative movement is invited to
attend. Sign up for the co-op social hour here.
Silver Spring & Takoma Park Mutual Aid Volunteer Meeting on February 23 at 2pm
Whether you are a new volunteer or looking to get back into mutual aid, join Silver Spring & Takoma Park Mutual Aid
next month for a volunteer meeting! In our meeting, SSTP Mutual Aid
will be planning actions within our community for the upcoming year,
which will first and foremost center the needs of those who have been
historically excluded from systems of power. The meeting will be hybrid,
with the in-person component taking place at Mid-County Regional
Services Center in Wheaton. RSVP for the volunteer meeting here.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of
interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media.
They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit
candidates at our tip line.
Back to the ’80s? From Andrew Liu in n+1.
At some point, even Donald Trump’s most vocal skeptics will have to
concede that his ideas, in conjunction with Xi Jinping’s, have ushered
in a new economic epoch. Tx 5 lefty links from our comrade Dan S.
MAGA attacks on DEI get ambivalent reaction among socialists and broad left.
Mixed reaction to Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion
programs “illustrates an underappreciated tension on the left at a time
when Mr. Trump has targeted diversity initiatives: Some on the left have
expressed skepticism of such programs, portraying them as a diversion
from attacking economic inequality — and even an obstacle to doing so …
socialists … who share [that] critique say they prefer activism that
focuses on class rather than racial or gender and sexual identity. They
tend to see labor unions and worker-led organizing as a more effective
solution to inequality.” NYT
Lucky
Americans. USA! USA! Welcome to TariffWorld (a subsidiary of
TrumpWorld), where Americans stand up for… well, Trump’s right to lie to
us. Tariffs on three high-volume trading partners, Canada*, Mexico* and
China, which are/were slated to begin Tuesday, Feb. 8, are your new tax
increases, Trump’s way of raising revenue for the Treasury quickly
without looking like he’s raising your taxes. Instead, the tariffs will
raise the cost of many if not all the things you buy. Merchants and
corporations will raise prices for their goods to cover the new cost of
imports under tariffs. (And even if the cost of those goods is NOT
raised by tariffs, many other corporations and merchants will raise
THEIR prices under the cover of the general increase in the cost of
living. Who will notice?) MORE of the rant plus progressive-slanted news from Maryland, the other 49 states and the latest federal outrages …
*Both nations “caved” Monday, but that’s just by Trump’s account. They agreed to do … what they are already doing.
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
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The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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