Numerous House members opted out of hosting large public events while they were away from Washington this week. However, the Republicans who did hold town halls in their districts were met with significant backlash.
In locations ranging from Georgia and Wisconsin to Oklahoma and Oregon, House Republicans encountered often-hostile audiences expressing anger over the extensive budget cuts and widespread federal employee layoffs orchestrated by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
With the House in recess and many lawmakers returning home, this week marked the first chance for them to engage with constituents regarding Trump and Musk’s aggressive approach to reducing government spending and decreasing the federal bureaucracy.
At a town hall in Roswell, a suburban area of Atlanta, attendees heckled and shouted over Republican Rep. Rich McCormick as they confronted him with pressing questions about the budget cuts—especially the seemingly arbitrary nature of some decisions.
One individual queried McCormick about how Musk’s DOGE could dismiss employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is crucial for safeguarding America’s nuclear arsenal, along with other federal workers involved in addressing the bird flu crisis. Additionally, over 1,000 employees have been laid off from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a significant employer in Atlanta.
“Why is the supposedly conservative party adopting such a radical, extremist, and careless approach?” the man asked, prompting applause from the audience, as reported in videos shared on X by Greg Bluestein, a journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and NBC News contributor.
“Much of their work overlaps with AI,” McCormick replied, referring to artificial intelligence, a comment that ignited dissent among the crowd. “I happen to be a doctor. I know a few things, OK?”
“If we extend the size of government without the means to sustain it, there will be impacts on your Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,” McCormick continued. “We must make some tough choices.”
In her opening remarks at the town hall, a woman asserted that it is Congress’ responsibility to allocate federal spending, “not the president, and you are doing a disservice by failing to advocate for us.”
McCormick noted that many of these matters “will be resolved in court,” which drew further jeers from the audience.
“But we’re angry!” another participant shouted.
A harbinger of more unrest, or merely ‘a few dissenters’?
These contentious town halls may signify an impending political retaliation against elected Republicans as thousands of federal employees nationwide start receiving layoffs, and Americans feel the repercussions of the GOP-controlled Congress largely capitulating to Trump and Musk.
One Republican representative observed that constituents who had been “silent” since Joe Biden’s 2020 win are now re-engaging vigorously.
“Too much, too quickly seems to be a common sentiment,” the lawmaker commented. “We need to evaluate each program, department, or agency before making informed choices. There’s a general frustration over the lack of transparency.”
Some House Republicans opted for virtual or telephone town halls, which allow for greater moderation. Yet, during the few in-person meetings held this week, GOP legislators found themselves on the defensive while addressing inquiries regarding the mass layoffs and possible future Medicaid cuts.
In West Bend, Wisconsin, GOP Rep. Scott Fitzgerald faced challenging questions during a town hall on Thursday, including one from attendee Michael Wittig, who was displaying a sign saying, “Presidents are not kings.”
“Will you consider issuing a subpoena? Are you prepared to use your subpoena power to demand Musk testify before Congress and address tough questions?” Wittig asked, according to WTMJ, the NBC News affiliate in Milwaukee.
The same question arose in Glenpool, Oklahoma, where participants urged Rep. Kevin Hern, a member of the GOP leadership, to better uphold his responsibilities in relation to the executive branch. “We’re witnessing the administration undermining Congress,” said a mother with her infant. “Will you summon Elon Musk to provide testimony under oath about his actions?” asked another attendee.
At a town hall in Baker City, Oregon, a military veteran named Terry Strommer voiced his frustration with GOP Rep. Cliff Bentz, stating that his office had not responded when he raised concerns regarding Musk.
“I want to ask you if you believe Musk is acting appropriately. Would you be comfortable with a group of unelected, randomly appointed individuals—essentially a bunch of 20-year-olds—being able to access all your private information?” Strommer questioned. “During my service, there was a chain of command, and we were accountable to someone. I don’t see Musk accountable to anyone.”
Bentz came to Musk’s defense, calling him “a globally recognized expert” capable of reforming the government’s “outdated systems.” His praise was met with laughter from some attendees.
Back in Wisconsin, constituents held GOP Rep. Glenn Grothman accountable for potential cuts included in Trump and congressional Republicans’ spending proposals.
When asked if cuts to Social Security or Medicaid would compel him to oppose a GOP spending bill, Grothman replied, “Well, if Social Security and Medicaid are cut, then we’ll have to reassess.”
The lively town halls evoked memories of the protests in 2009, which marked the onset of the tea party movement, when constituents voiced their concerns over Democrats’ expansive health care bill, later known as the Affordable Care Act.
The following year, a significant red wave resulted in a remarkable 63-seat gain for House Republicans, displacing Democrats from power. Democrats are hopeful that the noticeable frustration can energize their campaign in the upcoming midterm elections, though the changing dynamics of the Congressional landscape, influenced by two rounds of redistricting since 2010, render a repeat of the Republican wave difficult.
At this point, some Republicans are questioning the extent of the backlash reflected in these town hall gatherings.
“I find it amusing how the media highlights a few critics when the general opinion among the American population is supportive of the actions this administration is taking,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented in response to inquiries from NBC News.
She continued: “It should be clear that this administration is dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. The president ran on this commitment. Americans voted for him based on this promise, and he is delivering. This is something that Democrats have long promised to address.”
Nonetheless, a Republican strategist from the early tea party movement sees initial signs of a similar uprising, as the GOP confronts voter dissatisfaction with the current economic circumstances, akin to the discontent experienced by the Democratic leadership in 2009.
“The message from Republicans emerging from the 2024 election was clear: Address the escalating cost of living in America,” remarked Ken Spain, who served as communications director for the House Republican campaign committee in 2009 and 2010. “While it may excite the Republican base, most voters struggle to connect the dots between aggressively reducing the size of the federal workforce and their financial well-being.”
Spain also noted that Republicans have time to avoid the same fate as Democrats in 2010.
“We’re just one month into the new administration, making it premature to make direct comparisons to the tea party protests of 2009, but Republicans must start linking their actions to tangible economic benefits for working-class Americans,” Spain advised. “Otherwise, the echoes of 2009 could become increasingly pronounced.”
Voter Responses
Recent polls suggest potential risks for Republicans due to Trump’s initial actions, particularly his attempts to downsize the federal workforce.
A slight majority of American adults in polling conducted by UJ and The Washington Post/Ipsos believe Trump has exceeded his authority as president.
Both polls also revealed that a majority opposed his efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Post’s survey indicated that 58% disapproved of his plan to lay off large numbers of federal workers.
Jesse Ferguson, a seasoned Democratic strategist involved in House races during the Obama administration, draws parallels to the 2018 midterms when Trump’s party faced significant backlash.
“Republicans are feeling the heat because constituents perceive chaos and hold the GOP accountable for the issue rather than seeing them as a part of the solution,” he explained. “When life feels uncontrollable, the last thing people want is for Trump and Musk to be dismantling everything they rely on.”
“In 2010, Democrats experienced the backlash for owning a detrimental status quo, while in 2018, Republicans encountered backlash for attempting to eliminate essential services,” Ferguson noted. “In 2025, Republicans are managing to accomplish both.”
A lingering political question remains whether voters will direct any frustration over these actions towards the largely powerless Democrats as well.
While Democrats in Congress have protested against the layoffs and cuts and organized rallies, some are also feeling pressure from constituents demanding more vigorous opposition to Musk’s DOGE initiatives.
At a crowded town hall in Albany, New York, a man urged Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko to take bolder action. He noted watching Tonko on TV advocating against cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Education, then calling on him to escalate his response because Musk and the Republicans “are not adhering to the rules.”
“If you ask us to come out, Congressman Tonko, we will show up. … We must confront them,” he emphasized, as captured in a video shared on Facebook. “When I saw you on the front lines, I was so proud. But thinking of figures like Jimmy Carter and John Lewis, I know what John Lewis would have done: he would have gotten arrested that day.
“Make them arrest you,” he urged as the crowd applauded louder. “We will stand alongside you, we will support you. I’d be willing to be arrested with you.”
