Democrats on Capitol Hill have bashed President Trump over mass federal firings since the first dismissals began in January. On Tuesday, they’re hoping to hold a human mirror to what that policy has done.

When Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, he’ll be staring into a packed House chamber featuring not only Republican allies and Democratic adversaries, but also a host of former federal employees who were recently laid off by Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The fired workers will be there at the invitation of Democrats in both chambers — a strategy that represents just the latest piece of a broader campaign to highlight the real-world effects that Trump’s early policy moves are having on Americans who live far outside the Beltway.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) is part of the effort. He’s invited Kyle Rahn, a disabled Army veteran who served three tours in Iraq before his move to the Department of Homeland Security, where he served as a national security specialist. Rahn was fired last month by email.

“Kyle stepped up to serve his country both in combat and as a civilian, and this is how he was repaid. It’s a disgraceful betrayal of our country’s promise to take care of the brave men and women who serve us,” Gallego said.

“I invited Kyle to the State of the Union because I want Trump, Musk, and their DOGE minions to look him in the eyes and see the faces of the people their reckless chaos is hurting.”

The immediate impact of the Democrats’ strategy is, to be sure, highly limited. Most federal workers are not high-profile figures, so Trump won’t recognize those he’s fired as he delivers his speech.

Still, the Democrats are hoping the mere presence of the........

© The Hill