Nearly 10,000 people participated in a tele-town hall with U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi last Thursday, where he addressed constituent concerns about federal budget cuts, border security, and the increasing political divide in Washington. The town hall, which was also livestreamed on Facebook Live, provided an opportunity for residents to hear directly from Suozzi on pressing issues.
“We’re in a very big time of change. It’s the middle of a lot of tumult,” Suozzi said. “I talk to people all the time, I try to find out what people are thinking, and some of my constituents are really just freaked out.”
The congressman acknowledged the politically divided nature of his district, noting that he is one of only 11 Democratic representatives in the country whose constituency also voted for Donald Trump as president. Given this political split, Suozzi said he aims to represent all of his constituents by working toward bipartisan solutions on major issues.
Suozzi identified the cost of living, border security, and budget cuts as the primary concerns of those in his district. He highlighted his focus on finding solutions for the asylum system, securing the southern border, restoring the State and Local Tax deduction, and pushing back against what he described as “reckless” budget cuts. He also noted the importance of delivering federal funds to Long Island and addressing concerns related to the Department of Government Efficiency.
DOGE, a federal agency focused on budget reductions, was one of the most frequently discussed topics during the town hall. Suozzi criticized the department’s cost-cutting measures, which he argued have resulted in the firing of essential federal workers and the defunding of critical research programs, including medical research at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institute.
“I think the bloom is going to come off the rose on this DOGE stuff,” Suozzi said. “What they’re doing is so callous and irresponsible and people are going to rise up and go to their representatives. And the members of Congress have to run every two years, so they’re going to listen to their constituents.”
Concerns about the possible elimination of the federal Department of Education were also raised. Suozzi warned that such a move could result in increased property taxes on Long Island, as local schools rely heavily on federal funding. He denounced the proposal to dissolve the department, arguing that it would have severe financial consequences for public schools and students.
Suozzi also addressed broader federal budget cuts, including an $880 billion reduction to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as well as $230 billion in cuts to food assistance programs. Multiple callers urged him to take action against these cuts, and he assured them he would continue advocating against the proposed reductions.
Throughout the discussion, Suozzi emphasized the importance of bipartisanship, while acknowledging its challenges. Some callers criticized him for working with Republicans, with one arguing that he does not push back against them strongly enough.
“I’ll fight back when I have to like I’ve been, but I will always look for people to try and find common ground,” Suozzi said. “Now can we do that with everybody? No… But we have to work at trying to get people to work together to actually solve the problems.”
When questioned about his vote to censure Texas Rep. Al Green during a presidential address to Congress, Suozzi explained that he would have made the same decision had a Republican been disruptive to a Democratic president. He pushed back against accusations that he does not challenge Republican policies, citing his vocal opposition to budget cuts and other key issues.
Suozzi concluded the tele-town hall by reiterating the importance of civic engagement and using tools to push back against harmful policies and find solutions.
“We only have three tools at our disposal: legislation, litigation, and mobilization… I’ll keep on trying to do my best in each of those areas to try and keep pushing forward,” Suozzi said. “We’ve got to pick and choose the fights… I think that we have to just keep on pushing and keep on fighting.”
