In the first weeks of the second Trump administration, “unpaid advisor” Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency have orchestrated the firing of tens of thousands of government employees across federal agencies, taken steps to dismantle federal programs and agencies, and halted federal funds and financial assistance programs that people rely on – with the promise of more slashing and burning to come. 

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The economic impact of the firings, their ripple effects, and Trump’s tariffs is devastating, especially to families and businesses in the Capitol region. It is also an opportunity to offer a vision to counter the dismal Trump-Musk vision of the United States and the world: One where we help our neighbors rather than spurn them, share our wealth rather than hoard it, and come together in community rather than isolate. 

During the Great Depression, unemployed families built shantytowns called “Hoovervilles” in cities around the country. These shantytowns became hubs for people seeking and offering relief, as well as organizing centers where unemployed masses mobilized to demand action from the government to address the worsening depression. The name was a jab at President Hoover, who many believed was contributing to poverty and misfortune with his administration’s policies. 

This Spring, Muskville will build on the legacy of the Hoovervilles and create a hub for solidarity, relief, and resistance in the shadow of the Capitol.