For Immediate Release: October 7, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today at 5:00 PM, hundreds of drivers who use Empower’s software to run their own businesses will rally together with hundreds of riders outside the White House to protest Mayor Bowser’s illegal shutdown order against Empower and to appeal to President Trump for his support.

Over the past few days, riders and drivers have sent over 10,000 emails, calls, and tweets to Mayor Bowser about the impact that shutting down Empower would have on them and their families. Thus far, Mayor Bowser has been unresponsive to these efforts, continuing instead to prioritize her personal relationships with Uber executives over the needs of D.C. residents.

Empower CEO, Joshua Sear, shared that “Mayor Bowser along with DC AG Brian Schwalb continue to do everything they can to prevent drivers from working for themselves in competition with Uber. They are now ready to throw me in jail for refusing to put thousands of hard-working drivers out of work and tens of thousands of their riders in economic harm’s way.”

Sear continued, “Hard working folks are rallying to send a clear message: Drivers have a right to work for themselves, determine their own worth and pursue the American Dream, and riders want and need access to affordable transportation.

Empower CEO Joshua Sear is available for recorded or live interviews by contacting PR@rideempower.com. 

About Empower:

Empower is disrupting companies like Uber with an innovative model: drivers set their own rates, get 100% of the fare, and pay the company a subscription fee in exchange for software and support services that help them run their own businesses. With Empower, drivers are neither employees nor contractors; they’re customers. Under this model, drivers are making thousands of dollars more per month working for themselves than they make working for Uber, which only pays them about 50% of what riders pay. Because drivers get 100% of the fare, they are able to charge riders about 20% less, on average, than Uber charges and still make considerably more money. Booking through Empower, riders save money. They also have more choices: they can request a same-gender or favorite driver, which many riders indicate provides them with a greater sense of safety. To learn more about Empower visit www.driveempower.com.

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