LEESBURG, Va.—House Democrats said on March 12 that they would visit Republican districts to conduct town halls after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said alleged “professional protesters” are holding demonstrations in the wake of sweeping cuts across the federal government.
During the Democrats’ annual retreat in Leesburg on Wednesday, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said he is planning several town halls in Republican districts.
“We’re filling a void that’s left open by our Republican colleagues who are too scared to show up to town halls in their own districts because they’re doing things that are not popular,” he said.
Several videos of confrontations between protesters criticizing Trump’s policies and GOP lawmakers staging town halls were posted online. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) faced callouts from audience members asking about the firings of veterans from the federal workforce.
Other Republicans also alleged Democrats are funding protesters.
“We don’t need paid protesters. The American people are with us,” Jeffries said.
Democrats have vociferously criticized the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal government and Musk’s unprecedented role in helming DOGE, which is tasked with identifying wasteful spending and inefficiencies in the federal government. Having hosted several town halls in their own districts all year, House Democrats are planning a blitz of public forums next week to highlight Republicans’ proposals to tweak the Medicaid program.
“I think that, at this moment, the American people want to feel seen,” Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) said at the retreat in Leesburg.
“As much as we can show up and talk to people, and listen—give people an opportunity to share their stories—and allow that to inform the work that we do, then we will be successful.
“It’s about listening to people. It’s not about where.”
Last month, Johnson floated the idea of tying new work requirements to the Medicaid program, which could affect eligibility for current enrollees. Lawmakers also suggested changing the federal government’s reimbursement to a per-person limit, potentially shifting some of the costs to the states and affecting enrollee eligibility.
The White House has repeatedly denied any intentions to cut Medicaid and Social Security and said the administration is targeting waste and fraud in the programs.
Democrats said they were looking toward the 2026 midterms as they try to boost public support.
Recent polls display mixed results on the public’s sentiments toward DOGE cuts. A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted between Feb. 26 and Feb. 28 found 51 percent said they approve of Trump’s efforts to cut the federal workforce, with 49 percent saying they disapprove.
