Republican Rep. Byron Donalds faced a chaotic scene Monday night at a Florida town hall. Protesters repeatedly shouted him down over cuts from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
Donalds tried to defend the Trump administration’s budget moves. But boos, heckling, and applause overwhelmed his responses. Much of the anger focused on DOGE’s cuts to federal agencies — especially the Social Security Administration. Seniors are panicking over delays from office closures.
“This is my question for the audience,” Donalds said, as security removed two protesters. “Do you want to yell or do you want to hear? Because if you want to hear, I’m trying to give you information. I told you: I am going to be factual.”
The event, held at Estero High School, started with a promise to “keep politics out” and focus on facts. But that didn’t last. Attendees fired off hostile questions about Trump, Musk, and DOGE. Some clapped for Donalds, others shouted over him, demanding “yes or no” answers.
As he criticized Biden-era spending, the crowd grew louder. “Allow me to educate and bring you the full story,” Donalds pleaded. “Because you’re not listening, you’re yelling.”
Tensions spiked when protesters began shouting about Gaza and diversity funding. One woman stood and refused to stop until Donalds warned she’d be removed. “Let’s have a disagreement,” he said. “But when you’re going to stand and yell… let’s be clear, you’re not [being heard].”
Florida Democrats amplified the moment online. The party’s X account posted a video from the town hall, saying it proved “Republicans can’t defend DOGE.”
The Social Security cuts are DOGE’s most controversial move so far. Layoffs, new fraud checks, and shuttered offices have hit seniors hard. Musk blames “vampire” fraudsters. Critics, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, say it’s harming people who rely on the system.
Donalds, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, is deeply involved in DOGE’s rollout. Trump endorsed him for Florida governor in 2026. Estero’s median age? 65.4.