Democratic leaders have held multiple telephone town halls to address recent federal actions, and on Wednesday, residents joined a session at the Silver Spring Civic Building to speak to their elected leaders in-person.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, and Rep. Jamie Raskin led the town hall, which was focused on supporting federal workers and others impacted by the President Donald Trump administration’s policies.
One federal employee asked what would be done to prevent a right-wing person from being named to lead the non-partisan National Archives. Van Hollen said leaders will “muster every vote we can to oppose them.” He added that “we still need some Republicans to come along” in the Senate.
A mother of a teen in the LGBT+ community asked why other Democratic leaders are speaking in platitudes and seem paralyzed in fear — “Why don’t I hear mention of aggressive legislative obstruction?”
Alsobrooks said Senate Democrats are using every procedural tool and are working in unity — “My Democratic colleagues are working really hard, and they do care.” She also noted “the sad reality is that we are in a minority.”
“Elon Musk and his band of misfit, post-pubescent betrayers of America and computer hackers are not opponents of corruption, they are agents of corruption,” Raskin said.
Van Hollen said, “We stand together in saying that we will fight this illegal Elon Musk takeover of the federal government.”
The town hall was hosted by the Montgomery and Howard County Democratic parties.
