National Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Leader, Melanie L. Campbell, Statement Opposing DOGE Attack on the Civil Service

Washington, DC - Today, Melanie L. Campbell, president of The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of The Black Women’s Roundtable, released the following statement following her remarks at AFGE "Save the Civil Service" Rally on Capitol Hill:

“I am appalled that Elon Musk and his cronies on the so-called DOGE team are attempting to dismantle our country’s beloved civil service. Civil servants are workers who wake up every day to do vital jobs that keep our democracy functioning. They make sure we have safe food to eat, protect us from deadly diseases, make sure our veterans are rewarded with myriad benefits for risking their lives to protect our freedom, ensure our seniors receive the social security benefits they deserve and need to make ends meet, and so much more.

“Above all, civil servants work for the American people. And nobody elected Elon Musk to eliminate the crucial roles they play in our daily lives in the name of efficiency. They are not partisan. We should be thanking them for all they do, not attacking them.

“Americans should see DOGE and related efforts to gut the safety nets and services we rely on to thrive for what they really are – a money grab designed to further enrich billionaires like Musk on the backs of hard-working people who go to work every day with no greater purpose than to ensure the health and safety of us all. The hundreds of millions of Americans who are not billionaires will stand strong against these unconscionable attacks on our freedom. We will keep fighting until the civil service is restored. We will not be erased.”

You can find Melanie's full remarks from the rally here.

About the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP)

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a leading organization dedicated to increasing Black civic engagement, political participation, and economic empowerment. Founded in 1976, the NCBCP’s mission is to create sustainable, impactful change by fostering inclusive and diverse leadership and policy advocacy that centers the needs of Black communities across the U.S.