‘Take A Stand’ Against Trump Cuts To Vets' Care, Food Programs, Group Urges Smith, Pallone

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — A local grassroots organization is calling for NJ representatives to “take a stand” against spending cuts in Washington, D.C., that they say harm constituents.

Jersey Shore Blue, a local chapter of Indivisible that aims to promote social justice and preserve democracy, rallied outside Rep. Chris Smith’s office on Thursday and Rep. Frank Pallone’s office on Friday to express their concerns about how federal cuts on the environment, veterans’ health care, and food programs in Washington are affecting people in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

In a letter to Smith, a Republican who represents New Jersey’s 4th District, the group cited cuts to federal agencies that “safeguard air and water quality, fund research for deadly diseases, provide medical care for our warriors and ensure that the elderly have food to eat and children have resources to learn,” as not being in constituents’ best interests, and as cause for concern.

The letter goes on to ask Smith to vote no on “any budget that hands control of government spending to [Elon] Musk and Trump or cuts important spending,” hold hearings on Musk’s access to Treasury payment systems, publicly commit to rejecting “extremist poison pills” in the budget and join forces with other Republicans and tell Trump to reinstate all federal agencies that have been eliminated since his inauguration along with their Congressionally approved funding.

“We sent you to Washington to represent us — to work to make our lives today better than they were yesterday,” the letter said. “The decisions made in D.C. this month have made our tomorrows less safe, less healthy and less economically secure.”

At the rally, attendees shared their reasons for coming to the event, which ranged from cuts to medical research and veterans care to Trump’s treatment of those seeking refuge in the U.S., and concerns over a “swing to the right and the ascendancy of Cristian Nationalism.”

According to Katie Connelly, who’s on the leadership team for Jersey Shore Blue, Smith wasn’t there on Thursday to speak with the group.

Patch has reached out to Smith for comment, but has not heard back as of Wednesday afternoon.

On Friday, the group visited Pallone’s office in Long Branch to express similar concerns and to give Pallone a list of requests.

In the group’s letter to Pallone (a Democrat who represents New Jersey's 6th District), they asked him and fellow members of Congress to commit to voting no on “any budget that lacks ironclad protections against Trump’s power grab,” demand hearings and make motions to subpoena Musk and Trump officials, and use procedural tools “to slow House business and block GOP sabotage.”

“The daily attacks on our democracy by President Trump and Elon Musk aimed at consolidating power into the hands of a right-wing elite must stop,” the letter said. “Thank you for fighting against their extremist cuts, trying to rein in Musk and refusing to bail out Republicans. We are counting on you to keep fighting and want you to know we ‘have your back.’”

In a statement delivered to the group, Pallone thanked Jersey Shore Blue for making their voices heard, and said he shares their outrage at “the increasing influence that unelected billionaires like Elon Musk have over our government” and the “dangerous consequences of his unchecked power under Donald Trump.”

“Let’s be clear: Trump and his billionaire buddies are gutting the federal workforce, including critical agencies like the EPA, the CDC, and the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Pallone said. “Federal employees in New Jersey are being laid off, and vital programs that serve our communities are being slashed.”

“If you’re angry about Musk’s growing control over our government, you must demand answers from the Republicans who are handing it to him. Trump and House Republicans have control over all three branches of government,” Pallone continued. “They are the ones pushing for brutal Medicaid cuts, laying off 9/11 first responder health care workers, and stripping funding from medical research at Rutgers, all while giving billionaires another tax break.”

Pallone went on to say that he is “fighting back every day,” by opposing “reckless layoffs” and working to block funding cuts.

“I am holding the Trump Administration accountable for the real harm they are causing,” Pallone said. “I urge you to take your voices directly to those in power. Because I can promise you, I’m already in the fight.”

To read Pallone’s full statement to Jersey Shore Blue, you can click here. To learn more about Jersey Shore Blue, you can visit their website.