Recapping One Month of the Musk-Trump Administration
Published Mar 4, 2025
... and how Food & Water Watch is fighting back! Here's how you can join us.
It has already been a challenging year under a Musk-Trump administration, but Food & Water Watch has a 20-year history of winning. We’re prepared to defend the strides we’ve made.
This current moment is heavy. With Elon Musk, Donald Trump has undertaken unprecedented attacks on our food, water, health, and democracy. People are losing jobs, medical care, and protection for safe food and water. Our most vulnerable neighbors, especially immigrants and transgender people, are being disgustingly scapegoated. Lives are on the line.
These attacks are coming hard and fast — but we are prepared to fight and win against them. For twenty years, Food & Water Watch has been winning campaigns against corporate power. We know that when we come together strategically and relentlessly, we can make real progress. We are leveraging the lessons we’ve learned to combat the Musk-Trump agenda.
At a recent Livable Future Live event, we heard from Food & Water Watch staff coordinating these efforts. Mark Schlosberg (Managing Director of Public Affairs), Emily Wurth (Managing Director of Organizing), and Thomas Meyer (Strategic Organizing Projects Director) sat down to explain the opening moves of the Musk-Trump administration and our steps for resistance.
Step One: Understand the Political Lay of the land
Before we take action, we need to understand exactly what’s happening and why. Mark put it clearly: “Their goal is to dismantle the core functions of government as a prelude to looting and privatization.” Musk and Trump are removing protections for workers, consumers, and the environment to clear the way for more corporate profits.
Altogether, they’re aiming “to transfer wealth from the vast majority of Americans to a small class of billionaire oligarchs,” Mark said.
To that end, Musk-Trump has shut down agencies, fired or moved to fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and frozen or canceled large amounts of government funding. This endangers projects and programs that keep our food and water safe, provide healthcare, protect workers, and much more.
At the same time, they’re pushing for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. And Congressional Republicans are working to codify this agenda through legislation. A budget reconciliation proposal created and approved by House Republicans would slash funding for critical programs, including those for food and water, by more than $2 trillion. At the same time, they propose $4.5 trillion in tax breaks to corporations and billionaires.
As Mark reminded us, Musk and Trump want us to think that their agenda is inevitable and that we are powerless. But that’s simply not true. Many of the things they’re trying to do are incredibly unpopular. And while Republicans control Congress, there are still many levers of power we can pull to block or slow things down.
Step Two: Identify Our Power and Our Role
Knowing all this, the next step is to think about how we as an organization can best contribute. As Thomas put it, we began with “a real, sober assessment of where we do and don’t have, and need to build, more power.”
We have a lot of resources and supporters in some areas and less in others. We also have many allies and potential allies, each with their own strengths and capacities. Through this analysis, we’ve developed a focused strategy about where, when, and how we fight back.
We’ve identified Congressional districts where we have strong networks of staff, volunteers, and allies, and where Republican lawmakers were elected on very slim margins. This makes them especially sensitive to their constituents’ demands. And given that House Republicans have just a three-person majority, only a few need to oppose terrible bills in order to stop them.
We can put pressure on these elected officials by focusing on issues that lots of folks care about, like clean water and food safety. And that’s exactly Food & Water Watch’s wheelhouse!
At the same time, the Democrats’ weak response so far has shown us that we need to put pressure on them, too. “We’re the ones who are going to have to have to push them to be bolder,” Emily said.
Democrats need to use all their power and platform to oppose Musk-Trump. And as calls flood their offices, they’re finally picking up the pace. We’ll continue to ensure they’re in this fight with us every step of the way.
Step Three: Take Action!
As Thomas said, we all have something to offer. What are your skills, resources, networks, and interests? You can tap into them and take action in ways that you enjoy.
For example, right now, Food & Water Watch volunteers, allies, and supporters are taking on all sorts of tactics to protect our water from toxic lead. Republicans in Congress have made it a top priority to try and repeal Biden’s Lead Out of Water rule, explained Emily. We’re working to stop them.
Food & Water Watch identified a handful of vulnerable House Republicans in districts that have significant numbers of lead pipes. Since we started this campaign, we’ve sent thousands of emails, held phone banks to drive calls to their offices, held rallies, got letters to the editor published in local newspapers, and met with representatives’ staff. We’ve already gotten one of these representatives, Mike Lawler in New York, to oppose the bill publicly.
When Congress was in recess and representatives returned to their districts, we added more rallies and letter deliveries to our efforts. “We know that these in-person contacts in the district are a powerful way to reach members of Congress,” Emily said.
All these actions come together to show our power and push our elected officials to listen to their constituents. Find what makes the most sense for you, especially what you enjoy doing, and jump in!
Step Four: Take Care of Yourself and Each Other
Ultimately, as Thomas quoted, “‘Action is the antidote to despair.’ Taking action, getting involved even in small ways is probably the thing to help keep you grounded and focused.”
But you don’t need to do everything all the time. We’re in this for the long haul. Pacing ourselves and taking care of each other is vital.
“In this current context, we really have to be there for one another as we push back against this really terrible and regressive agenda,” said Mark.
Simple things like walks in nature, caring for pets, and time with friends keep us energized. And luckily, when we fight together, there is always someone to step up when we need to step back. The key is to find strength in each other so that when we’re ready, we can jump back in.
Along with building political power, this camaraderie is why we need large, strong, and coordinated movements. So try taking action with a group, whether that’s Food & Water Watch, a neighborhood association, or another local or national organization.
Whatever action you take, it matters. It’s because of folks like you — dedicated to their communities, this country, and our planet — that we can continue the fight. With you, we’ll defend our food, water, climate, and democracy and build a livable future for all. Thank you for joining us!
Actions You Can Take Right Now:
- Send a message to your members of Congress to keep lead out of our water!
- Text RESIST to the number 23321, and we’ll send you simple actions you can take each week.
- Show up in person to the local office of your member of Congress. We have a template letter that you can personalize and deliver to their office to urge them to oppose Musk-Trump’s dangerous funding cuts. Sign up here for your letter delivery toolkit.
- Volunteer with us! Check out upcoming opportunities here.
- Your generosity powers our work to fight Musk-Trump and work toward a livable future for all! Donate to Food & Water Watch.
Check Out the Full Event
Watch the event here to learn more about:
- The lineage of far-right ideology from Silicon Valley that laid the groundwork for Musk-Trump’s strategy,
- The specific food, water, health, and environmental programs in the crosshairs by Musk-Trump actions and proposed budget cuts,
- How our legal team is taking action against threats to our food, water, health, and environment,
- How Democrats can stand up more forcefully and effectively against Musk-Trump, and more!
Other Resources Shared from the Event
- This year marks an important milestone in the fight for sustainable food, clean water, and a livable climate — Food & Water Watch turns 20! Check out this interview with our founder and executive director: “Against All Odds: An Interview With Wenonah Hauter.”
- We’d love to see you at our benefit and virtual conference this spring! Check out the list of benefit ticket perks and register here.
- Check out the video Mark shared describing Elon Musk and Silicon Valley’s Plan to Dismantle Democracy.
- Join us on March 19 for our Livable Future Live event on World Water Day and Microplastics in Our Water. Sign up here.
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