WASHINGTON – Ahead of President Trump’s joint Congressional address last night, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) discussed how President Trump’s policies are affecting Arizonans, including his guest for the joint address, Kyle Rahn, a disabled Army veteran and federal worker who was recently fired due to Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts to the federal workforce. Senator Gallego also discussed some areas of potential compromise and cooperation with Republicans in Congress.
See coverage below:
On the Airwaves
Senator Gallego on DOGE: “We can find efficiencies. There are ways that we could actually cut waste. We should do it in a thoughtful manner that protects the American citizen every day and makes sure that these workers are taking care of themselves at the same time. We could do it about saving taxpayer money, but the way that these guys are doing [it], these DOGE boys, Elon Musk are doing it […] they’re only doing it so they could give tax cuts to the very, very, very rich, and the American taxpayers themselves are the ones that are hurting.”
Senator Gallego on recent TSMC announcement: “I was supportive, are you kidding, this is exciting! This is a great Arizona and American story. I’m not going to root against Arizona and the United States because Trump is in charge. This is a great, great thing. They’re going to add three more fabrication of microchip plants in Arizona [to] a total of six. 40 percent of all the chips in this country are going to be built in Arizona. I am proud that I worked on the CHIPS Act when it was under Biden. I’m probably going to work on this under Trump. Of course, is a great story for America, and we should all be proud of this is happening.”
Senator Gallego on drop in border crossings: “Look, I’m very happy that we’ve seen some of the flows of illegal immigration crossing across the border at an all-time low. This is something that we’ve been talking about as Democrats. It’s why, when I was in the House and still in the Senate, I’ve been advocating for a comprehensive border security bill, because what we want to do is be able to continue these sustained gains that started under Biden and are continuing under Trump.”
Telemundo (Washington, DC):
Senador Gallego: “Yo creo que lo más importante es como demócratas tenemos que hablar a las familias y los trabajadores de este país. Tenemos que tener un enfoque para asegurar que ellos entienden que nosotros somos el partido que va a asegurar que usted va a tener un buen futuro. El futuro. El sueño americano que usted puede comprar una casa, empezar un negocio”.
Reporter: “Kyle Rahn is a Phoenix resident who thought his job was protected because of his experience, but he ended up losing his job after he said he was promoted.” […]
“He was in a meeting when an email popped up on his phone. The subject line? Termination.” […]
“At first, Rahn didn’t understand. He knew President Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, wanted to layoff new hires. Rahn felt he was safe because he’d worked at the Department of Defense and Homeland Security for five years and was recently promoted.
“The North Phoenix native will be a guest of Senator Ruben Gallego’s Tuesday night when President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress. Gallego and the Democrats want to highlight federal workers like Rahn. They say the White House has been careless with the way it’s carried out its federal firing blitz.
“As for what he’d say to the President if given a chance, Rahn said this:”
Rahn: “I wouldn’t tell him anything. He’s the President, and I respect that position and the immense amount of responsibility that comes with that. What I would ask [is] stand by your commitment to protect veterans.”
Reporter: “Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego will bring veteran Kyle Rahn, who served three tours in Iraq before he was fired from his job at the Department of Homeland Security last month as a result of DOGE layoffs.”
Rahn: “You know, so it’s just kind of a kick in the chest when we don’t have the opportunity to continue to serve folks that really needed it.”
In Print
12 News: Disabled Arizona veteran who was laid off will attend Trump’s address to Congress
[Katie Wilcox and Haley Williams, 3/4/25]
An Arizona veteran recently laid off due to DOGE cuts will join Senator Ruben Gallego at President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night.
“Obviously, I got my bumps and bruises across that, and some, you know, more challenging things happened at the end of my last deployment, and you know that led to my eventual medical retirement,” Rahn said.
“You’re getting rid of some of the best and the brightest because if you got promoted to your job, that’s considered probationary, so you actually getting rid of the most, the smartest people and the most people with the most motivation,” Sen. Gallego said. “And it’s just not the way to do it.”
Gallego is critical of the president’s approach to cutting costs.
“There are ways for us to actually bring more government efficiency. But doing this in a way makes zero sense, and we’re only doing it so Elon Musk can make enough, save enough money so they could get tax cuts for him and his rich friends, and that doesn’t make us any better or any safer,” Gallego said.
KTAR: Sen. Ruben Gallego invites Valley veteran fired by DOGE to Trump’s State of the Union
[Roxanne De La Rosa, 3/3/25]
“When I served in Iraq, I fought to defend this country because I believe in what America stands for: freedom, opportunity and the promise that hard work means something. I never thought that after years of service and sacrifice, I’d be cast aside and fired by email without warning or consideration,” Rahn said in the release.
Axios: Gallego to bring fired federal security expert to State of the Union
[Jessica Boehm, 3/1/25]
Rahn said he hopes he can use his time in Washington, D.C., to explain the importance of CISA’s work to politicians and federal officials and correct misinformation about federal workers generally.
“We’re not cartoon villains. We’re hard-working American taxpayers,” he said.