Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas and Rep. Keith Self of Texas encountered challenging audiences at separate constituent town halls on Saturday. This reflects a trend of GOP lawmakers facing backlash from constituents regarding President Donald Trump's early decisions.
During the town hall, Rep. Self was questioned about his trustworthiness in demanding immediate oversight into the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk. The question received a significant round of applause from the attendees. In response, Rep. Self explained that the federal government is primarily staffed by unelected officials and emphasized that DOGE only provides recommendations to the president and secretaries, lacking independent decision-making authority.
Following Rep. Self's explanation, the crowd began chanting 'Vote him out,' prompting the congressman to conclude the town hall. Rep. Self is facing reelection next year.
Similarly, at Sen. Marshall's town hall, attendees expressed concerns about DOGE's mass firings, particularly of veterans. Sen. Marshall did not address these concerns and abruptly ended the event, which was met with loud boos from the audience.
These incidents highlight the growing discontent among constituents towards Republican lawmakers over their handling of government efficiency and treatment of veterans. The interactions at the town halls underscore the importance of elected officials engaging with and addressing the concerns of their constituents.
