Byron Donalds town hall DOGE: GOP Rep. Byron Donalds faced a storm of criticism and shouting at a town hall in Estero, Florida. Tensions rose as attendees questioned Donalds over his stance on Elon Musk, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and access to Social Security records.
Donalds struggled to maintain control. “Do you want to yell or do you want to hear?” he asked the crowd repeatedly. His attempts to explain the federal oversight process were often drowned out by boos and interruptions.
One major flashpoint came when a local resident asked whether Musk and DOGE were “invading Social Security files.” The question drew roaring applause. Donalds responded that DOGE was authorized by the president and tasked with reviewing inefficiencies in government systems. His mention of former President Obama doing similar reviews only fueled louder pushback.
Donalds defended the agency’s review process. “What the DOGE is doing is they are examining the records,” he said. “Congress has to weigh in on those findings.”
He also addressed criticisms of Trump-era efforts to cut staff at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “I want to get rid of the CFPB,” he stated, drawing a mix of cheers and boos.
The town hall became even more tense when a woman shouted objections to U.S. support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict. Donalds called her “disrespectful” and asked her to leave. As she exited, chants of “Free Palestine” echoed through the room.
Donalds closed the event by calling for respectful debate. “Even though I disagree with you, I will respect your opinion,” he said.
The event underscored growing tensions in Republican-led districts, where concerns over federal oversight, Social Security, and foreign policy continue to spark public outrage.
Source: CNN
