President Trump called protestors “paid troublemakers.”
Organized by Democrat-aligned groups, town hall meetings and other public events involving Republican members of Congress are being disrupted by protests, shouting, and confrontations in an effort to embarrass elected officials. The protestors are objecting to some of the proposed cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a temporary agency in the Office of Management and Budget headed by Tesla and SpaceX head Elon Musk.
Most notably, Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina had his Asheville town hall meeting disrupted by hecklers, with some becoming so unruly that they were removed from the event. While Edwards brushed off the confrontations in a CNN interview, he said those who engage in the political process via town hall meetings need to “have our facts right.” Edwards argued the budget he voted for does not cut Medicare or Social Security, despite false assertions from protestors.
In a congressional district north of Philadelphia, freshman Republican Ryan Mackenzie has been besieged by protestors before he could even announce a town hall meeting. Mackenzie’s district office in Lehigh County was the site of dozens of protestors who claim he is not responsive. Mackenzie’s office told local news that in just his first three months in the House, they have responded to 7,000 contacts from constituents.
Mackenzie’s office told Lehigh Valley News said he supports programs like Medicaid and fought for constituents to receive eligible benefits as a state representative. Mackenzie also said illegal immigrants should not have access to these programs.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has seized on the disruptive antics of protestors and announced what they’re calling “People’s Town Halls” in Republican congressional districts they allege their representatives are “hiding.” The DCCC intends to hold one of these events in Mackenzie’s district with Minnesota Governor and former vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz headlining.
While protestors are lamenting efforts to reduce the size and cost of the federal government, NBC News polling shows more than 60% of those polled said DOGE should continue what it is doing.
More from @SteveKornacki: Respondents think DOGE Is a good idea instead of a bad idea 46/40. And 61 percent say DOGE should keep going and do even more (33%), or should keep going but slow down (28%). Not the numbers you'd expect. In this poll at least, DOGE is popular.
— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) March 16, 2025
After the disruptions and protests gained national attention, House GOP leadership cautioned their members against holding in-person town hall events. President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson have said the protestors are “paid troublemakers” and “professional protestors.”
While Edwards’ event received much of the attention, a meeting held by Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman was attended by roughly 250 people in a meeting called “tamer” than other town hall meetings across the country. Hageman answered questions from constituents about the role Musk and DOGE is playing in reducing waste in the federal government, praising Musk’s targeting of foreign aid spending.
In Nebraska, GOP Rep Don Bacon blasted Democrats for inviting “the most liberal Governor in America” to his district while Colorado Republican Gabe Evans’ office said Evans intends to conduct town hall events that prevents constituents from “being drowned out by yelling activists.” In Washington state, Republican Rep. Michael Baumgartner faced a “disruptive, angry crowd” in Spokane, interrupting every answer Baumgartner tried to give. At one point, when Baumgartner began discussing the Constitution, he was “interrupted by more jeers.”
Baumgartner suggested he is likely to eschew in-person town hall events in the near future, opting to use telephone town hall systems that “cut down on disruptive behavior.”
