Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Sarah McBride (all D-Del.) announced their guests to President Trump’s scheduled address to a joint session of Congress. As the Trump administration works to gut federal agencies by summarily firing public servants, the federal delegation has invited impacted Delawareans as their guests.
Senator Coons will host Rory Badger, a Seaford father and husband who previously was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Salisbury, Maryland. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired Badger last month without notice and without cause.
Badger, a two-tour Marine combat veteran who served partially in Afghanistan, had been working as a biologist on the Eastern Shore since September 2024, a position he has called a “dream job.” Prior, he’d spent six years with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.
“Rory is a Delawarean who served in combat overseas in the defense of the country he loves and then came home to continue serving his country in civilian life,” said Senator Coons. “His thanks? An unceremonious and illegal firing by President Trump and an unelected billionaire. Now, Rory is scrambling to pay medical bills and keep a roof over the head of his wife and daughter. It is my honor to have him seated next to me for the President’s address as a representative of all the Americans harmed by these thoughtless actions.”
“I was unceremoniously dismissed from a job I’d worked hard for and was good at. This should have been handled with more care,” said Badger. “I’m proud to sit next to my senator from Delaware to lift the voices of those who received this kind of treatment. Our stories should be known.”
Senator Blunt Rochester will host Dr. Laura Wallace, resident of Middletown. Wallace is a dedicated mother who was unjustly fired from her job at the Office of Early Childhood Development as a result of the Trump administration’s executive orders. Wallace’s husband, a disabled veteran, is a nurse at the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.
“I am grateful that Dr. Laura Wallace will be joining me for the President’s joint address,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Dr. Wallace is a Delawarean, a dedicated public servant and someone who has committed her career to improving the lives of children and families. But unfortunately, Dr. Wallace is one of many federal employees fired by the Trump administration without reason or warning. She is not alone in her experience. Her husband, a disabled veteran and VA hospital probationary employee, is fearful that his job may also be on the line as well. These are the stories that must be told to the American public. I’m fortunate that Dr. Wallace will be joining me to share her experience and stand alongside me against this administration’s unjust treatment of our federal workforce.”
“My colleagues and I were doing good work and made a positive impact on the lives of children and families across the country,” said Dr. Laura Wallace. “I loved that job, but because this administration does not value our work, I will not have the opportunity to continue in that role and children and families in our country will be negatively impacted. I appreciate Senator Blunt Rochester for inviting me to tell my story. I hope others take notice that there are countless more people like me, trying to pick up the pieces for my family because of the recklessness of this administration.”
Congresswoman McBride will host Nelson Hill, President of Delaware State AFL-CIO and UFCW Local 27. Delaware State AFL-CIO represents over 43,000 workers across Delaware, and roughly 10,000 public employees. Hill has been a dedicated labor leader for over 20 years.
“Nelson represents tens of thousands of workers across Delaware in the private and public sector who have seen their jobs, pay, and rights undermined by this administration,” said Congresswoman McBride. “This administration has sought to gut the National Labor Relations Board, erode unions and workers’ collective bargaining power. We’ve also witnessed the violation of federal workers’ rights, with thousands unjustly fired from their positions. I’m proud that Nelson will be coming down to Washington to stand with me against this administration’s ongoing effort to undermine Delaware worker’s rights in order to line the pockets of the uber wealthy.
“I’m grateful to stand with Congresswoman McBride today and always in our shared fight to protect Delaware workers from this administration’s attempts to weaken our rights to collectively bargain and gut our federal workforce,” said Delaware State AFL-CIO President Nelson Hill.
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