Illinois is home to over 81,000 federal employees, making the federal government the state’s second-largest employer.

More than 60 federal workers and supporters gathered in subfreezing temperatures near Independence National Historical Park to denounce layoffs and the federal funding freeze.

The rally, which was organized by the American Federation of Government Employees, featured several Democratic lawmakers with fiery language.

In Blue Ash on Wednesday, Cincinnati-based federal workers said the cuts will reduce critical services to Americans. "Today, federal employees are standing up and fighting back to tell Musk and his cronies they must not dismantle systems we have in place that benefit the American public,