House Republican Tells Fired Federal Workers ‘God Has a Plan’ in Hostile Town Hall
Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch /IPX
Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) gave cold comfort to federal workers who have been laid off under President Donald Trump by telling them that the loss of their jobs is part of God’s plan.
After taking office last month, Trump named billionaire Republican donor Elon Musk to lead the “Department of Government Efficiency,” which has been laying off scores of workers and freezing spending appropriated by Congress. Musk has claimed the pseudo-agency has “saved” $55 billion, but an analysis by The Washington Post found that this number is wildly inflated.
Musk’s power within the Trump administration and the mass federal layoffs have angered some voters, who have directed their ire at Republican lawmakers at town halls across the country.
On Monday, Alford became the latest lawmaker to get an earful.
“Just because you have a government job doesn’t mean it’s a lifetime appointment like a Supreme Court,” Alford said at a town hall in Belton, Missouri, according to The St. Joseph News-Press. “So I would encourage anyone who finds themselves in this situation to realize that we are going to get this economy turning again. There are jobs available. God has a plan and purpose for your life.”
The line did not go over well with the crowd.
“We don’t want your God!” a woman yelled while another exclaimed, “Our God is Christian!”
Ariel Mollhagen, who was one of the federal employees to be dismissed, attended the event. She was a probationary worker at the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“This is like breaking things that were not easy to build and will not be easy to repair,” she said.
The News-Press reported that about 75 people attended the town hall, which was held in a coffee shop. Dozens more were outside.
“Government employees are going to be let go and that’s just the reality,” Alford stated. “I feel bad that people have been let go, I understand that.”
Alford coasted to reelection in November, trouncing his Democratic opponent by 45 percentage points.
