Rep. Keith Self, a Texas Republican, was met with intense backlash during a town hall over the weekend, as furious constituents tore into him over budget cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The congressman was loudly interrupted by chants of “vote him out!” as a crowd of over 300 people expressed their frustration.
The town hall, held at the Collin College Conference Center in Wylie, quickly turned heated when Self referenced DOGE, a program launched by tech billionaire Elon Musk aimed at cutting federal spending. Many in the audience, unhappy with the resulting job losses and cuts to vital services, showed their displeasure with boos, thumbs-down gestures, and chants demanding his removal from office.
DOGE, which has been slashing funding to key federal agencies, has already led to significant job cuts, affecting American workers nationwide. Musk’s leadership of the program, supported by former President Donald Trump, has sparked outrage, particularly in communities that have felt the brunt of these cuts.
Before the town hall began, around two dozen protesters gathered outside to express their opposition to Self and the GOP’s handling of the budget cuts. Inside, tensions quickly escalated as Self tried to defend his position, mentioning the budget resolution that had narrowly passed in the U.S. House. The crowd, however, was not receptive, repeatedly interrupting him with shouts and chants.
Collin County GOP officials later claimed that the disruptions were caused by Democrats who attended the event with the sole purpose of causing chaos. However, the intense frustration from the crowd seemed to reflect broader concerns over the impacts of DOGE’s cuts, particularly on jobs and essential government programs.
During the town hall, Self answered 19 questions on a range of topics, including DOGE, Ukraine, and Medicaid. But no matter the topic, the audience’s anger was focused on the cuts and the effect they were having on their lives.
This heated moment is part of a larger pattern of frustration with Republican lawmakers, especially in town halls across the country. In Idaho, for example, a woman was forcibly removed from a GOP event after pressing lawmakers on issues like Medicaid and reproductive rights.
The backlash against DOGE’s cuts is expected to continue, with many Americans fearing more job losses in the coming months. As tensions rise, these public confrontations could have lasting effects on voter sentiment and may play a significant role in shaping the political landscape leading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Watch videos of the incident below:
🚨Disruptions Won’t Silence Us!🚨
This morning, Congressman Keith Self hosted a town hall to connect with constituents, but unfortunately, many Democrats showed up only to cause disruptions. We’ve seen multiple videos where, instead of engaging in meaningful discussion…
1/ pic.twitter.com/boX1kXFxg9— Collin County GOP (@CollinGOP) March 1, 2025
