WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — Education advocates, recently fired employees, and supporters are expected to gather Friday morning at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., to protest recent mass firings and plans to dismantle the department.

Officials said the rally, organized by various education and civil rights groups, aims to highlight the severe impact these cuts will have on students across the country.

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The event will take place from 8 to 10 a.m., with a "Honk-a-Thon" scheduled from 8 to 9 a.m. on Independence Street SW, followed by the main rally from 9 to 10 a.m. outside the Lyndon B. Johnson Building.

The protest follows significant cuts initiated by President Donald Trump's new administration and Elon Musk, which event leaders said have impacted the DOE's ability to support public schools, students, and families.

"That means federal education programs will be thrown into chaos, key funding streams will be left in limbo, and millions of students will be left without federal civil rights enforcement when they face discrimination," the event organizers wrote in a press release.

The cuts come partially from the actions of Musk, leader of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), in an aim to reduce federal government spending. According to DOGE's website, the department has reported significant savings through various cuts.

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In the weeks since President Donald Trump took office, over 200,000 federal workers positions at more than a dozen agencies have been eliminated, and about 75,000 have accepted buyouts, 7News previously reported.

On Thursday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration to "stop the targeted destruction" of the DOE.

“President Trump’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education threatens to strip Maryland schools of critical resources, leading to larger class sizes, fewer services for students with disabilities, and deepening inequities between well-funded and struggling districts," said Brown. "The impacts wouldn’t just affect grade school students; young adults’ may not be able to pay for college with federal student loans and grants, forcing them to change their hopes and dreams."