Angry constituents challenge Bean to defend Trump/Musk policies

 

The 4th Congressional District Town Hall saw 40 speakers over a two-hour span deliver condemnations of Bean's support to cut programs like education, health care and research, veterans services and international aid, as well as engaging in a trade war with allies and weaponizing the U.S. Justice Department against political opponents.

 

The auditorium reverberated with boos, catcalls and jeers as each speaker detailed their concerns over Bean's endorsement of administration actions, as well as his refusal to meet with constituents face-to-face.

The town hall was organized by political activist Sheila Cocchi, former chair of the local Democratic Executive Committee, who said the meeting was a non-partisan event intended to provide Bean with residents' concerns and questions about issues.

 

Neither Bean nor any member of his staff attended the town hall.

 

In a two-minute video recorded from Washington, D.C. Wednesday, Bean said, "I know there's Democrats holding a town hall meeting and I want you to hear the truth northeast Florida. Don't believe any of the hype. Don't believe all of what's going on out there."

Bean pledged to preserve Social Security and Medicare stating the agencies could work more efficiently without cutting benefits.

 

He also touted that his office "has real town halls that we do every month and where we're visiting."

 

Bean has not held an in-person town hall with constituents since the Trump Administration took office in January.

The parade of speakers included teachers, veterans, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, federal workers and former city officials.

 

One of the most impactful speakers was Nicole Kresse, who until recently worked for Chemonics International, one of the largest implementing services companies for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the agency that provides a wide range of humanitarian and development programs focusing on promoting economic growth, improving health and education, strengthening democratic institutions, responding to disasters, and advancing U.S. foreign policy goals. USAID was shut down by President Trump and Elon Musk last month.

 

"We had 96 of 104 contracts terminated in the month of February. I returned from four months of service in Ukraine and had to tell my teammates, who have been hunted down, that we don't have projects anymore and that the U.S. government is turning its back on its allies," she said. "We have lost 90 percent of our business. The government owes us $180 million, and we still have not been paid."

She said she has spent two and half years in 'war zones' helping to stabilize governments.

 

 

"The U.S. government supported other governments for stability, to making a safer, stronger and more prosperous world and America, and that has been gutted," she said.

She said the funding for USAID was passed by Bean and others in Congress. "The cuts have been arbitrary; the website has been shut down and fired the inspector generals who do the department audits."

 

Her focus in Ukraine was economic development.

 

"My project in Ukraine supported over 8,000 businesses in COVID and the war. We created 100,000 jobs and we were on track to generate a billion dollars in sales. Have supported $250 million in tax revenue for the government of Ukraine so that they can support their people and their military," she said. "I can tell you now because I have lived this, trust in America is gone. This will literally result in hundreds of thousands of deaths for people who are receiving lifesaving support around the world."

 

She said USAID costs each taxpayer $160 per year to fund, "that's what we're fighting over."

Tim Walker of Fernandina Beach asked Bean, "Please convince me that all these tariffs are a good idea."

 

Peggy Bulger, a retired federal worker with the U.S. Library of Congress, took on Elon Musk's role in massive cuts to federal departments and programs.

 

"Here's the problem, they (the Trump Administration) are not interested in finding that fraud. They're interested in making it impossible for the government to work so that everybody will say look at that, the government doesn't work!"

She said she wanted Bean to be at the Town Hall because he is the chairman of the bipartisan Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Committee.

 

"We have the richest person in the world (Musk) with a chain saw gloating over firing people indiscriminately just because," Bulger said.

 

Former Fernandina Beach Mayor Robin Lentz said she has known Bean for a very long time and recognizes he is a "very good person."

But she said Bean's support of Trump administration policies is "not the Aaron Bean that I know. He is not the person that I know would stand up and do the right thing," Lentz said.

 

Lentz said she wanted the Trump administration to issue a report similar to the congressional investigation of Matt Gaetz that would focus on document waste, fraud and abuse.