Across multiple states, constituents have confronted their representatives at town hall meetings over concerns that Social Security may be cut in the Trump administration's ongoing effort to reduce federal spending, with voters recently pressing Republican Representatives Bill Huizenga of Michigan and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina.
Newsweek has reached out to Huizenga's and Edwards' press teams for comment via email on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Voters have grown increasingly concerned that billionaire Elon Musk, who heads Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and is pursuing an aggressive initiative to cut the size and scope of the federal government, is going to shrink Social Security.
Musk recently called the federal program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible workers and their families, "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time."
Although President Donald Trump has pledged not to cut Social Security, some skeptics remain concerned he may reconsider. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced it will cut 7,000 jobs, reducing its workforce to 50,000.
With Republicans controlling the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives—and minimal organized opposition, as seen in Senate Democrats' recent approval of the GOP-led stopgap bill—constituents in red districts are holding their leaders accountable over concerns about Social Security. Representatives in several states have held town halls in recent weeks, facing intense questioning over budget and workforce cuts, as well as concerns about entitlements.
What To Know
A series of congressional Republicans have held fiery town hall meetings over the past few weeks, with issues regarding the federal government workforce and administrative cuts overseen by DOGE and Trump's policy on Ukraine at the forefront.
Nearly 70 percent of the questions Huizenga received during a telephone town hall on Friday were related to concerns over Social Security cuts.
"Let me just reiterate, Social Security is not being touched," he pledged during the meeting, the Associated Press reported.
On Thursday evening, in Asheville, North Carolina, Edwards faced pressure on how he would "ensure the protection of our Social Security benefits," a question that drew applause from roughly 300 attendees, according to the AP.
"I'm not going to vote to dissolve your Social Security. I'm not looking to," the congressman said during a heated town hall in which several participants shouted at Edwards. He added: "That's a promise that's been made to the American people. Those folks who have worked all their life and paid into that certainly deserve to reap the rewards."
Videos of him being heckled during the town hall have circulated online. In one of the videos, a man, who identified himself as a veteran, loudly confronted Edwards before being escorted out of the town hall by officers.
A January AP-NORC poll found that Social Security is widely popular among Americans, with 67 percent of participants believing the U.S. spends too little on the program. The poll surveyed 1,147 adults between January 9-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
In 2023, around 71.6 million people received benefits from programs administered by the SSA, the agency reported. The SSA, which started in 1935, faces a funding crisis that could leave the program unable to pay full benefits by the mid-2030s.
In late February, Musk told popular podcaster Joe Rogan that Social Security is the "biggest Ponzi scheme of all time," which has increased constituents concerns about the federal program's fate.
"We found just with a basic search of the Social Security database that there were 20 million dead people marked as alive," Musk told Rogan, adding that "some of them are getting money."
When Rogan asked for specifics, Musk, however, did not provide a definitive number.
Pyramid and Ponzi schemes are fraudulent financial models that deceive new participants, relying on recruitment or fresh investments rather than generating legitimate profits.
While cases of benefit fraud have occurred, fewer than 1 percent were reported in July 2024 by the SSA inspector general, and the majority of payments were made to living people.
What People Are Saying
Representative Chuck Edwards said on X, formerly Twitter, following the town hall: "Had a lively town hall with my constituents in Asheville. We may not agree on every issue, but hearing the concerns of Western North Carolinians and answering your questions will continue to be a priority of mine. If you weren't able to join, stay tuned for information about my upcoming tele-town hall."
Independent Asheville-based journalist Jessica Wakeman described Edwards' town hall as "one of the most intense events I've ever covered."
North Carolina state Representative Lindsey Prather, a Democrat, said: "At 5:30pm, there were 1,770 people in line at Chuck Edwards' town hall in Asheville, for a space that holds around 400. I met folks from all across the district and political spectrum who are worried about our country and who want to be heard."
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "Paid 'troublemakers' are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it's not going to work for them!"
Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said: "We don't need paid protestors. The American people are with us."
What Happens Next?
Republicans have been discouraged by the administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold future town halls.
On the other hand, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) and Democratic state parties on Friday announced they will host a series of "in-person public events" in every state but focusing on districts with Republican representatives.
The first slate of the People's Town Halls includes stops in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Pennsylvania.
This article had reporting from the Associated Press.
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About the writer
Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Brooklyn. She joined Newsweek as a reporter in 2024. You can get ... Read more