House Republicans Unperturbed By Protests, Assert: ‘We’re moving forward with the cuts’
Numerous Republican lawmakers emphasized that their constituents support Musk's actions.
TroibNews 
Last week, Rep. Jay Obernolte's town hall in California was disrupted by chants of "No king!" Meanwhile, Rep. Glenn Grothman was met with boos and jeers upon entering his Wisconsin town hall, and Rep. Cliff Bentz of Oregon experienced such extensive heckling that he threatened to leave the event.
Despite the tumultuous receptions, Republican lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday largely undeterred in their support for Elon Musk and his efforts to significantly cut the federal government. “It's easy to be critical, but the people voted for change in November, and that's exactly what they're getting,” Obernolte remarked in an interview. “It's unfortunate,” he added, “that the other party’s chosen to turn this into a political stunt.”
Republicans showed little contrition in light of the protests. Some characterized the demonstrations as misinformed, while others contended that they were orchestrated by liberal activists and did not reflect the views of their broader constituents. Grothman stated, “I think they were uninformed people, so I really kind of discount that,” and surmised that many upset attendees at his event were Democrats. He continued, “I think once you're informed you realize that we’ve got a lot of financial problems.”
The angry scenes across the nation during the House recess mirrored some aspects of 2017, when voters expressed outrage over Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. However, this time, the focus was largely on Musk and the GOP's passive stance as he implemented mass layoffs and budget cuts. Many town hall discussions also touched upon fears regarding cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and other safety-net programs—concerns that resonate with centrist Republicans in Congress.
Following an aggressive protest, NBC News reported that Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia intends to encourage Musk to show more compassion towards affected individuals. Still, many GOP lawmakers insisted that their constituents generally support Musk’s initiatives to eliminate government waste and fraud, despite recent polling indicating a declining public opinion on both Musk and his methods. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, who faced a tough crowd, emphasized, “I’ve not heard anybody say they didn’t want to cut anything, it’s just they don’t like Elon,” adding regarding the backlash, “We’re moving forward with the cuts.”
The town halls predominantly occurred in solidly Republican districts where lawmakers anticipated more favorable receptions. However, the acrimony observed even in these events may indicate a wider discontent with Musk and his actions. GOP Rep. Pete Sessions, despite complaints about Musk at his East Texas town hall, affirmed his commitment to continue holding such meetings. “Of course I will,” he stated briefly.
Other Republicans, such as Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Mark Alford, also faced heated confrontations at their district events. Additionally, many saw protests outside their offices, largely organized by left-leaning groups like Indivisible and the Working Families Party. In Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Western Colorado district, around 400 attendees gathered for a meeting organized by liberal activists, although Hurd himself did not participate. An even larger demonstration is planned for Tuesday, with constituents from 27 states and 59 congressional districts, including Hurd’s, set to approach Capitol Hill through the People’s Action Institute to advocate for policies aimed at assisting struggling Americans.
How voters perceive Musk and Trump—and how Republicans choose to respond—could significantly influence the outcome of the 2026 midterms. With Democrats eager to reclaim the House majority, addressing the GOP’s slim control of the House is a vital goal for them.
On Monday, several Republican members noted signs of organized protests at their events, with participants reading questions from scripts. Bentz remarked that the same activists appeared at each of his town halls: “I started joking with them at the end. I would say, ‘Hey, I've seen you before. I hope your questions are different.’” Despite the tension, he reaffirmed his dedication to reducing the size of government, while recognizing that decreasing the federal workforce is “really, really, really hard.”
When questioned about possible concerns regarding Musk and DOGE, Bentz hesitated: “I'm not part of the executive branch, so I'm not really in a position to say what's happened exactly.”
Some Republicans have expressed growing anxiety over the pace and extent of DOGE’s cuts, as well as the administration’s apparent disregard for congressional spending authority. A few have covertly contacted the White House about reversing certain firings, particularly those affecting military veterans and USDA employees involved in combatting the escalating bird flu crisis. Obernolte highlighted instances in his district, such as the loss of park rangers in Joshua Tree National Park, noting that after pushback, he believed some of those positions were being reinstated.
Concerns have also been raised regarding potential NIH funding cuts and their impact on research institutions across various states. Some senators have begun to press Musk and DOGE to demonstrate “compassion” for the civil servants facing mass layoffs. “We are not building trust within our own government by how the DOGE teams are operating,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski asserted, acknowledging that “we’re seeing the Congress kind of stand back and let them overreach. That cedes our authority. … That’s not good.”
Nevertheless, many House Republicans appear untroubled by this public disapproval. Rep. Ken Calvert, who encountered protesters at his Palm Desert office, maintained his support for Musk, stating, “I'm used to it. It’s just another day in paradise.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
Despite the tumultuous receptions, Republican lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday largely undeterred in their support for Elon Musk and his efforts to significantly cut the federal government. “It's easy to be critical, but the people voted for change in November, and that's exactly what they're getting,” Obernolte remarked in an interview. “It's unfortunate,” he added, “that the other party’s chosen to turn this into a political stunt.”
Republicans showed little contrition in light of the protests. Some characterized the demonstrations as misinformed, while others contended that they were orchestrated by liberal activists and did not reflect the views of their broader constituents. Grothman stated, “I think they were uninformed people, so I really kind of discount that,” and surmised that many upset attendees at his event were Democrats. He continued, “I think once you're informed you realize that we’ve got a lot of financial problems.”
The angry scenes across the nation during the House recess mirrored some aspects of 2017, when voters expressed outrage over Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. However, this time, the focus was largely on Musk and the GOP's passive stance as he implemented mass layoffs and budget cuts. Many town hall discussions also touched upon fears regarding cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, and other safety-net programs—concerns that resonate with centrist Republicans in Congress.
Following an aggressive protest, NBC News reported that Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia intends to encourage Musk to show more compassion towards affected individuals. Still, many GOP lawmakers insisted that their constituents generally support Musk’s initiatives to eliminate government waste and fraud, despite recent polling indicating a declining public opinion on both Musk and his methods. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, who faced a tough crowd, emphasized, “I’ve not heard anybody say they didn’t want to cut anything, it’s just they don’t like Elon,” adding regarding the backlash, “We’re moving forward with the cuts.”
The town halls predominantly occurred in solidly Republican districts where lawmakers anticipated more favorable receptions. However, the acrimony observed even in these events may indicate a wider discontent with Musk and his actions. GOP Rep. Pete Sessions, despite complaints about Musk at his East Texas town hall, affirmed his commitment to continue holding such meetings. “Of course I will,” he stated briefly.
Other Republicans, such as Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Mark Alford, also faced heated confrontations at their district events. Additionally, many saw protests outside their offices, largely organized by left-leaning groups like Indivisible and the Working Families Party. In Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Western Colorado district, around 400 attendees gathered for a meeting organized by liberal activists, although Hurd himself did not participate. An even larger demonstration is planned for Tuesday, with constituents from 27 states and 59 congressional districts, including Hurd’s, set to approach Capitol Hill through the People’s Action Institute to advocate for policies aimed at assisting struggling Americans.
How voters perceive Musk and Trump—and how Republicans choose to respond—could significantly influence the outcome of the 2026 midterms. With Democrats eager to reclaim the House majority, addressing the GOP’s slim control of the House is a vital goal for them.
On Monday, several Republican members noted signs of organized protests at their events, with participants reading questions from scripts. Bentz remarked that the same activists appeared at each of his town halls: “I started joking with them at the end. I would say, ‘Hey, I've seen you before. I hope your questions are different.’” Despite the tension, he reaffirmed his dedication to reducing the size of government, while recognizing that decreasing the federal workforce is “really, really, really hard.”
When questioned about possible concerns regarding Musk and DOGE, Bentz hesitated: “I'm not part of the executive branch, so I'm not really in a position to say what's happened exactly.”
Some Republicans have expressed growing anxiety over the pace and extent of DOGE’s cuts, as well as the administration’s apparent disregard for congressional spending authority. A few have covertly contacted the White House about reversing certain firings, particularly those affecting military veterans and USDA employees involved in combatting the escalating bird flu crisis. Obernolte highlighted instances in his district, such as the loss of park rangers in Joshua Tree National Park, noting that after pushback, he believed some of those positions were being reinstated.
Concerns have also been raised regarding potential NIH funding cuts and their impact on research institutions across various states. Some senators have begun to press Musk and DOGE to demonstrate “compassion” for the civil servants facing mass layoffs. “We are not building trust within our own government by how the DOGE teams are operating,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski asserted, acknowledging that “we’re seeing the Congress kind of stand back and let them overreach. That cedes our authority. … That’s not good.”
Nevertheless, many House Republicans appear untroubled by this public disapproval. Rep. Ken Calvert, who encountered protesters at his Palm Desert office, maintained his support for Musk, stating, “I'm used to it. It’s just another day in paradise.”
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
