A House GOP lawmaker’s town hall devolved into chaos minutes after it began this week, and he’s now responding to hecklers who criticized his concerns about the national debt.
“We heard from a lot of Nebraskans last night that voiced their concerns about Elon Musk. And I basically said I support [the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE], I support what Elon Musk is doing,” Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital in an interview on Wednesday.
“What I asked people to do is think about our debt, not as a red or blue issue, it’s an American issue. It’s going to take all of us to solve it. And what I said last night is we need to balance the budget. I was booed. That is not the right response.”
Flood illustrated his focus on the national debt, which is over $36 trillion, with a massive graphic that hung above him in a Columbus, Nebraska, high school auditorium for most of the town hall.
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Rep. Mike Flood held a town hall during the House recess period. (Getty Images)
But any mention of government spending cuts spurred jeers from the crowd, particularly in the context of Musk’s DOGE efforts.
Multiple people raised specific concerns about medical programs and veterans funding, which Flood said he was in favor of protecting.
“What I told my constituents last night was, ‘Hey, if you have a concern about a federal agency or a federal program or a specific spending item, communicate that with me,’” Flood said.
“I heard a lot last night about the [Department of Veterans Affairs]. We have made a promise to these veterans. … If there’s a hiccup in the system, I’ll do what I’ve always done, and that is I’ll interface with the VA. I’ll advocate on behalf of the veterans and will ensure that they receive the care that they’re entitled to.”
At one point, a woman who said she lost her sister to breast cancer accused Flood of supporting cuts to critical cancer research…
