Lexington’s Hands Off rally showed us what democracy in action looks like | Opinion

This past weekend, I stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow Kentuckians at the Hands Off rally in Lexington. I wasn’t just there as a politician. I was there as a combat veteran, a member of the Lexington Commission on Veterans Affairs, and the founder of the Kentucky Veterans Caucus. I came to speak up for those who’ve worn the uniform —and for those still serving in other ways.

When veterans raise their hands and swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution, we do it without hesitation. We accept the risk because we believe in the promise of this country. And in return, the country makes a promise to us: that we’ll be cared for when we come home.

But that promise is under threat.

Some voices in Washington — like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressman Andy Barr — want to gut the federal workforce. Let’s be clear: we’re not opposed to smart reforms or making government more efficient. But there’s a big difference between using a scalpel and swinging a chainsaw. What they’re proposing would recklessly harm real people—not just bureaucrats, but veterans, nurses, teachers, and civil servants who work every day to make this country stronger.

Here in Kentucky, thousands of veterans continue their service by working in federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs. They help fellow veterans access healthcare, housing support, and the benefits they’ve earned. Laying them off isn’t just a policy change—it’s a betrayal.

These cuts aren’t aimed at some bloated bureaucracy. They target real people who served this nation once in uniform and now serve it again behind a desk, in a hospital, or at a claims center. They’re the ones holding the line for our fellow veterans.

But this moment isn’t just about veterans. This is about all public servants—and about the Kentuckians, young and old, who rely on them.

When you go after the federal workforce, you’re not just threatening jobs. You’re threatening services millions of Americans count on: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, student aid, disaster relief, rural broadband, farm support, and more. You’re weakening the very systems that make life stable for working families, seniors, and vulnerable communities.

The people behind these cuts will tell you they’re “draining the swamp.” But they’re not going after waste—they’re going after workers. They want to hollow out the government so billionaires and special interests can call the shots without accountability. It’s not about liberty—it’s about control. They want power concentrated at the top while the rest of us are told to make do with less.

We saw something different at the Hands Off rally. We saw democracy in action. We saw people who still believe that when we raise our voices together, we can hold power to account. That when promises are threatened, we stand up — not just for ourselves, but for our neighbors and fellow citizens.

This is what patriotism looks like. It’s not waving a flag while you cut someone else’s safety net. It’s standing up for the people who make this country work — from the VA nurse to the social worker to the retiree who paid into Social Security and expects their government to keep its word.

Veterans like me aren’t looking for a handout. Most of us aren’t even asking for a hand up. We’re asking for promises kept. And so are millions of Americans who’ve paid their dues, served their communities, and counted on a government that works for the people.

So the next time someone says they want to “shrink the government,” ask them: Who exactly are you cutting? Because too often, it’s not waste—it’s the very people who’ve served this country in uniform and out.

If someone needs to be sent home, it’s not the veteran working at the VA. It’s not the civil servant helping seniors navigate Medicare. It’s not the teacher giving kids a fair shot. It’s the ones who’ve forgotten who they work for.

Hands off our veterans and our public servants.

Kentucky Rep. Adam Moore represents the 45th House District in Fayette and Jessamine counties.