The Epoch Times

Several Democrat lawmakers are using their plus-one invitations to the president’s congressional address to draw attention to his administration’s recent executive branch layoffs. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), slated to deliver the Democrats’ response to the speech, has invited Marine veteran Andrew Lennox of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as her guest. Lennox was one of more than 1,000 employees recently terminated from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Michael Missal, the VA’s former inspector general, will also attend as Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s (D-Conn.) guest. Missal is one of several fired federal watchdogs suing to get their jobs back. Other recently fired guests will include Jason King, a disabled veteran and former Federal Aviation Administration employee; Doug Kowalewski, a former National Science Foundation worker; Jamie Werner, a former program management specialist at White River National Forest; and Air Force veteran Chris Wicker, who was initially told that he was mistakenly fired from the Small Business Administration, only to have his termination confirmed days later. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who invited Kowalewski, said she hopes to “force Trump to confront the federal workers he fired—the people who make this country run.” The layoffs were made amid the Trump administration’s push to streamline federal operations through its new Department of Government Efficiency. Other groups Democrats will seek to highlight include Medicare recipients, Los Angeles firefighters, small business owners who oppose tariffs, and individuals and families affected by the Israel–Hamas war.

The White House guest list for President Donald Trump’s congressional address on Tuesday night will serve to highlight both “the disaster wrought by the previous administration” and Trump’s achievements since his second inauguration, according to the Trump administration. The family members of violent crime victims dot the list, including Allyson and Lauren Phillips, the mother and sister of Laken Riley, a college student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant last year. Alexis Nungaray, mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, will be listening from the House chamber balcony. Jocelyn was another victim allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. Also in attendance will be Helen, Alyson, and Kaylee Comperatore, the widow and daughters of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was slain by the gunman who nearly assassinated Trump last July. Other notable invitees include Elliston Berry, a 15-year-old victim of deepfake porn; history teacher Marc Fogel, who was released from a Russian prison last month; and Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player who was severely injured by a transgender athlete. Trump is expected to weave his guests’ stories into his speech to showcase his priorities, his accomplishments, and to outline his vision for the nation.