WALL TOWNSHIP - Hundreds of Congressional District 4 constituents including federal workers, NJ Family Care/Medicaid recipients, immigrants, unions, and community groups were joined by Senator Andy Kim at a “Stop the Cuts” town hall to hold Representative Chris Smith accountable for his support of Trump administration policies. Since taking office, Trump’s policies and executive orders have upended the lives of millions of Americans and threaten the integrity of our nation’s democracy.
Many of the Trump administration's actions have been challenged in federal court, but speakers expressed their frustration on Smith's silence over President Trump and the Elon Musk-led DOGE overreaching their powers. This overreach has included the firing of countless federal employees, the gutting of key government agencies, the rolling back of environmental and climate protection initiatives, and the targeting and deportation of immigrants – including legal residents.
Participants also voiced their concerns regarding Smith’s recent vote in favor of a budget bill that proposes cutting $880 billion from health care services - a move that will devastate working families and vulnerable communities - to finance tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. This legislation would enable Trump and a GOP-led Congress to enact cuts to Medicaid, the ACA, SNAP, and other programs millions of New Jerseyans rely on.
Smith’s district has 147,000 Medicaid recipients including 67,500 children and 9,700 individuals with disabilities
“New Jerseyans are seeing Donald Trump and Elon Musk trying to take away their Medicaid, funding for their kid’s education, and other programs they rely on just to pay for tax cuts for billionaires,” said Senator Andy Kim. “I’m standing up to this corruption, but too many Republicans in Congress are hiding, afraid to face the people they’re stealing from. It’s time to hold them accountable and make the people’s voice heard.”
“Providing more tax benefits to large corporations and the ultra-rich does nothing to assist New Jerseyans who are struggling with healthcare costs, rent or mortgage payments, and putting food on the table,” said Maura Collinsgru, Director of Policy and Advocacy, New Jersey Citizen Action. “When funding for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and other essential programs is cut, the burden falls hardest on those already struggling to make ends meet. Instead of giving tax breaks to the wealthiest, we must ensure they pay their fair share.”
Debbie White, RN, HPAE President, said, “The Trump administration calls these agencies and funding 'wasted taxpayer dollars'. Yet, these cuts will severely damage our healthcare infrastructure by preventing people from accessing lifesaving care and critical treatment options. Hospitals will lay off nurses and other healthcare workers. The current staffing crisis in our hospitals will only worsen and when that happens, we know patient care will suffer, and more patients will die.”
"We are at a crucial crossroads in New Jersey. The slashing of public service funding, unprecedented worker layoffs, threats to our healthcare and retirement benefits, and attempts to nullify collective bargaining agreements—these are direct attacks on New Jersey's working families by wealthy interests and the politicians they fund." said Dennis Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice President. "We will not remain silent! The urgency to take action has never been greater; the threats to our jobs, livelihoods, families, and union solidarity have never been more severe. I've never felt more proud to stand with this powerful labor movement, fighting alongside our sisters, brothers, and siblings across the Garden State as we unite against these challenges."
The Trump administration’s cruel, reckless and mean-spirited cuts to education and other key services are harming every New Jersey family,” said New Jersey Education Association vice-president Steve Beatty. “New Jersey already sends far more to Washington, DC in taxes and we receive back in services. Now even the little bit that our students and families have been getting back is being slashed so he can give tax cuts to himself and his billionaire backers. It’s time for every New Jersey elected official to decide if they represent New Jersey or only serve Donald Trump.”
“Our nation is descending into chaos, and people are angry that ‘public servants’ are complicit. Despite his public statements to the contrary, Chris Smith is prepared to allow Medicaid and other critical, life-saving programs—paid for by our tax dollars—to be ripped away from New Jersey’s most vulnerable under the guise of rooting out abuse. The real abuse is billionaires refusing to contribute, and elected officials targeting these critical programs to make up the difference,” said New Jersey resident, Rachel Peace. “If Chris Smith continues to enable a callous, reckless, white supremacist President (masquerading as a Christian) who is threatening our democracy, dismantling our government, and beholden to a foreign, unelected billionaire Nazi— he can count his 23rd term his last.”
“Chris Smith can run, but he can’t hide from the math. He refuses to meet with us because he knows his party’s plan to extend Trump’s tax cuts is indefensible,” said Eric Benson, For the Many NJ Campaign Director. “While billionaires like Elon Musk manipulate our democracy for their own gain, working families are left paying the price. New Jersey families know that education, transportation, and affordable healthcare are the real investments that make our communities strong. We need leaders who stand up for us, not sell us out.”
Sponsors and participants for the Stop Cuts Town Hall included American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Teachers, Food & Water Watch, For the Many NJ, Health Professionals & Allied Employees, Jersey Shore Blue, Make the Road NJ, National Domestic Workers Alliance, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Education Association, Service Employees International Union, Working Families Power, and Indivisible groups.