A Republican congressman has sparked outrage among fired federal workers by telling them that “God has a plan” for their lives.
At a town hall in Missouri on Monday, GOP Rep. Mark Alford faced furious shouts from the crowd as he defended President Trump’s sweeping government cuts. His comments set off a firestorm of anger, reflecting the growing frustration with Trump’s destructive policies.
Alford’s remarks were part of a larger wave of chaotic town halls across the U.S., where voters voiced their disgust over Trump’s radical agenda, with many also taking aim at the influence of figures like Elon Musk.
Reports from states like Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin show a surge in anger as Trump’s government cuts threaten workers’ jobs and dismantle entire agencies.
In Missouri, Alford tried to defend Trump’s policies, telling the crowd near Kansas City, “Just because you have a government job doesn’t mean it’s a lifetime appointment like a Supreme Court.” He added, “There are jobs available. God has a plan and purpose for your life.”
The crowd erupted. One person screamed, “We don’t want your god!” Another shouted back, “Our god is Christian!”
As heckling intensified, Alford coldly responded, “Government employees are going to be let go and that’s just the reality. I feel bad that people have been let go, I understand that.”
When asked about cuts to Medicaid, Alford said, “There are some things that can be reformed.” The crowd erupted again, with one person shouting, “Do it through Congress, not Elon!”
At one point, Alford tried to control the crowd by saying, “Can I have your attention, please? Class? Class?” A furious voice yelled back, “You work for us!”
According to the Office of Personnel Management, as of February 12, over 75,000 federal workers had accepted buyout offers, with another 20,000 facing layoffs. Alford’s dismissal of their struggles only added fuel to the fire.
In Georgia last Thursday, Rep. Rich McCormick, another Republican, was confronted by angry voters who asked what he was doing to “reign in the megalomaniac in the White House.”
In Idaho on Saturday, a Republican meeting turned violent when a protestor was yanked from her seat, thrown to the ground, and dragged out by security guards.
The anger wasn’t just coming from Democrats and independents — even some Republicans are fed up with the direction of the party. Polls show a growing level of mobilization among blue voters, echoing the early days of the Tea Party movement against President Obama in 2009.
One woman working for the Social Security Administration in Kansas City told the News-Press, “I wake up every single day just wondering if I have a job tomorrow. This is hurting, and I think he was kind of dismissive.”dismissive.”
Watch the clip below:
Mark Alford (R-MO): Elon Musk has contracts with the federal government, but he is also, I think, doing an effective job at weeding out the waste, abuse, and fraud in the government.
Constituents: BOOO!!! SHOW ME!!! CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!! HE IS THE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE!!! pic.twitter.com/nDLSOs6dmW
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) February 24, 2025
