Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy (FWAD)
Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy (FWAD) is a left-of-center coalition of around 2,000 current and former federal employees and their supporters, that opposes the actions of the second Trump administration, especially its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and cuts to federal agencies. 1 FWAD holds rallies and protests, creates media, and provides federal workers ways to oppose DOGE and the Trump administration. As of March 2026, FWAD was listed as a partner group for the left-of-center protest movement No Kings. 2
Contents
Activities
On February 14, 2025, the Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy (FWAD) held a Stand With Federal Worker Against DOGE rally outside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) building in Washington DC. The rally was meant to show support to the workers within HHS who opposed directions from the second Trump administration Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). FWAD contended that DOGE was made to “destroy” the federal government, stating in an advertisement for the rally: “Trump has handed power over to Elon Musk to destroy the federal government, enrich himself, label it as ‘waste,’ and leave federal workers and the public they serve with nothing.” 3
On April 14, 2025, demonstrators with FWAD protested outside of the U.S. Department of Labor to oppose the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs of federal workers. The event received support from many left-of-center activist organizations, including the left-of-center litigation group Democracy Forward. An employee from Democracy Forward expressed support for the protest and criticized the funding cuts stating, “Federal workers…hired based on merit rather than political loyalty are an intolerable check on a president who only wants to follow the laws he supports.” 4
Leadership
Beverly Schreiber is the co-founder and deputy director of the Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy. Schreiber states that she has dedicated her career to “advancing progressive values through advocacy and electoral campaign work.” 5
From October 2015 through July 2016, she worked for Organizing for Action where she created media surrounding minimum wage laws and gun control. In 2016, Schreiber worked as a volunteer management intern on the Hillary for America Campaign in New York and from July 2016 through November 2016, she worked as a field organizer for the Colorado Democratic Party, where she canvassed for the election of Hillary Clinton and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). From September 2017 to March 2018, Schreiber worked as a consultant for Organizing for Action in Nevada, where she held media events designed to oppose then-U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), and criticize his stances on health care, immigration, and federal taxes. From March 2018 through October 2019, Schreiber worked for NextGen America where she was involved with the Nevada Youth Vote Program, which included get out the vote events on 10 college campuses. From February 2020 to June 2020, she worked as a field director for the Nevada Assembly Democratic Caucus, and from September 2023 to December 2024, Schreiber worked as the director of outreach and partnerships for the Jewish Democratic Council of America. In May 2025, she co-founded FWAD, and as of May 2026, she was still working for the organization. 6
Media
Audio Series
The Federal Workers for Alliance for Democracy created an audio series called “I Do Solemnly Swear” which consists of 16 audio clips from former and current federal workers and their perspectives on the impact that the second Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency and federal budget cuts will have on the American citizens. A spokesperson for the series, Aisha Coffey, said the purpose of the series, beyond opposing DOGE and building public opposition to federal budget cuts, is to “make people understand what services and protections [they could] lose.” 1
Resistance Menu
The Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy states on its website: “Our government is being hijacked to hurt the very people it is meant to serve…if enough federal workers refuse to obey…we can delay -or even stop- the Trump administration from causing harm.” 7 The organization provides a “resistance menu,” which offers ways for federal employees to do, or not do, their jobs as a protest against DOGE and federal budget cuts. 8
FWAD breaks down resistance efforts into three categories; actions, malicious compliance and active non-compliance, and overt resistance. 8
Recommended actions by FWAD include hiding small programs within larger programs to keep them from being cut, being disruptive during meetings and asking uncomfortable questions, attending rallies and protests, and coordinating “sit-ins” at work. 8
FWAD recommends that employees “Develop selective hearing, forgetfulness, or blame your workload.” 8 It also recommends that federal workers avoid correcting errors in policies and requests that may be self-defeating or cause problems. 8
For overt resistance, FWAD recommends sharing non-classified information with the press and journalists, whistleblowing, displaying controversial and banned materials in the office, faking loyalty tests for federal jobs, and refusing return-to-office orders. 8