Congresswoman Beatty Hosts Tele-Town Hall on Musk-MAGA Hostile Takeover of U.S. Government

Washington, DC — Tonight, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) hosted a Tele-Town Hall to address the Musk-MAGA hostile takeover of the U.S. government and the dangerous, and in some cases, unlawful executive orders issued by President Trump. Despite a D.C. snowstorm, Reps. Glenn Ivey (MD-04) and Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) joined the conversation in person, reaffirming their commitment to defending democracy and answering questions from Ohio’s Third Congressional District. More than 8,000 constituents dialed in, with additional viewers joining via Facebook Live to learn how House Democrats are fighting back—and what they can do to help.

“This is not the time to sit on the sidelines,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “Trump and Musk think they can run our government like their own personal business empire—breaking the law, abusing power, and crushing working families in the process. But they didn’t count on you.”

Beatty continued: “When we raise our voices, we win. Some of Trump’s illegal actions have already been stopped because people fought back. We must keep up the pressure.”

Callers from across Ohio’s Third Congressional District voiced urgent concerns, questioning the legality of Trump’s executive orders and asking what House Democrats are doing to stop them. Many wanted to know how they could take action to push back.

Key issues raised included:

• Threats to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
• The future of public schools, higher education, and student loan programs
• The risk of mass firings for federal workers, including those at Defense Supply Center Columbus
• The impact of Trump’s closure of USAID and attacks on the Department of Education
• Concerns over federal funding for nonprofits that provide life-saving services

During the discussion, Reps. Beatty, Ivey, and McGarvey outlined the three-pronged strategy House Democrats are using to stop Trump’s reckless actions and protect working families:

• Litigate – Trump’s executive orders have faced multiple lawsuits, and some have already been paused or rescinded due to legal and public pressure.
• Legislate – House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to protect Americans’ sensitive information and essential benefits like Social Security and Medicare. Additionally, the Stop the Steal Act—a bicameral bill—aims to block unlawful attempts to access government systems, including Trump and Elon Musk’s attempted data breach of the Treasury Department’s payment systems.
• Communicate & Agitate – House Democrats urged Ohioans to use their power by calling their representatives, speaking out, and demanding action. They noted public pressure has already halted some of Trump’s most dangerous actions, proving that when people fight back, they win.

Tonight’s Tele-Town Hall made it clear—Ohioans are engaged, informed, and ready to fight back. With thousands of constituents calling in to demand answers, it is evident that the Musk-MAGA agenda is not going unchallenged. Rep. Beatty and House Democrats remain committed to protecting Social Security, defending democracy, and stopping reckless executive actions that hurt working families. 

Watch the full Tele-Town Hall recording HERE.  

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