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Fired federal workers to join Democrats at Trump's speech to Congress

March 4, 2025

Jaden Amos

Some Democrats are inviting fired federal workers to be their guests to President Trump's joint speech to Congress on Tuesday.

Why it matters: The move is an effort from Democrats to show they stand with the thousands of federal employees impacted by the federal government's job cuts and funding freezes.

Catch up quick: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) privately urged Democrats last week to invite fired federal workers as their guests, Axios first reported.

  • Schumer will bring Alissa Ellman, a disabled veteran who was recently. fired from her position at the Buffalo, New York Veterans Affairs office.

Here's a list of other Democrats bringing recently impacted federal workers to the address.

  • Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) will bring Ben Vizzachero, a terminated U.S. Forest Service employee.
  • Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y. ) announced that her guest will be Luke Graziani, an Army veteran fired from a local VA hospital.
  • Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) announced he will bring a constituent, Nancy Bolan, who was fired from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) will bring a 20-year Army veteran terminated from a VA health center due to a directive from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
  • Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) announced he will bring Gabriel D'Alatri, a Marine veteran who was recently fired from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
  • Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) will bring Kyle Rahn, a disabled Army veteran who worked for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
  • Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) will have Jamie Werner, a recently terminated specialist with the United States Forest Service (USFS).
  • Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) announced he will bring West Covina City Councilman Ollie Cantos, a target of DOGE cuts in his position with the Department of Education.
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) will bring a recently fired scientist who will not be identified due to fears of retaliation.
  • Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) will have James Diaz, a disabled veteran recently terminated from the IRS.
  • Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) will bring Claire Bergstresser, who was recently fired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
  • Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) will have Jessica Fair, a recently terminated National Parks Service (NPS) employee.
  • Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced he will bring Jason King, a disabled veteran recently fired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  • Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) will have Ashley Ranalli, a fired NPS ranger.
  • Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) announced he will bring Alexzandria Hunt, an Army veteran terminated from a VA medical center.
  • Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will bring Michael Missal, a fired VA inspector general.
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) will have Isabella Isaksen, an Army veteran fired from the USFS.
  • Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) will bring Kate Severson, a fired park ranger.
  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced that she will bring Doug Kowalewski, a recently terminated National Science Foundation (NSF) employee.
  • Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) invited Amelia Huffman, a Navy veteran who was recently fired from USFS.

What's next: President Trump is scheduled to deliver his joint address to Congress Tuesday at 9 pm ET.

  • Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is slated to give the Democratic response to Trump's speech shortly after the president's remarks end.

Editor's note: This story was updated with additional lawmakers and their guests.