More Trump protesters march in Grand Coulee

Citizens unhappy with the direction of the federal government under President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who heads up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, marched with signs Monday from noon to 1 p.m. along Midway Avenue in Grand Coulee.

A week earlier, Sheri Edwards had walked the route alone. On Monday, President's Day, the number climbed to 13 like-minded people.

Several said they were pleasantly surprised by positive responses, and no negative ones, from passersby honking horns and giving thumbs up signs. One man pulled over his car to hand out some candy in a show of support.

The group raised signs decrying "Chaos" and "Fear" but to "Demand Justice," and "Respect Civil Service."

Since Trump took office Jan. 20, his administration has fired federal workers by the hundreds, claiming the effort to be for government efficiency and reducing the federal budget, which Musk wants to cut by a couple trillion dollars.

It started with an offer to allow those willing to resign to not work but get paid for months. That offer closed last week, but agencies from the IRS to the Forest Service have been targeted with mass layoffs.

Locally, The Star asked for related information from the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A Reclamation spokesperson said all such inquiries must go to single agency-wide general press email. An NPS spokesperson said they were not allowed to comment but could refer questions to the Washington, D.C. office. BIA has not responded to a voice message.

Unofficially, however, some numbers have been reported to us by workers, and we're working on follow-ups. So far, those affected may be in the tens, not hundreds, but the process seems to be in full bloom.