Many 黑料吃瓜网 voters are expressing disapproval over the new Department of Government Efficiency (formerly ) and the department's leader, Elon Musk.
Rep. Joe Courtney, a Democrat representing Eastern 黑料吃瓜网 towns, including Groton, New London and Enfield, said his office received an influx of calls starting on Jan. 20.
Courtney鈥檚 communications director said his office received over 9,000 emails and phone calls during former President Joe Biden鈥檚 first month in office.
That鈥檚 compared to over 20,000 calls and emails Courtney鈥檚 office received during the first month of Trump鈥檚 second term. Courtney says his district is feeling the impact of the administration.
鈥淭here鈥檚 still new initiatives that have been going out from the Trump White House through DOGE that have hit hard in the Second Congressional District,鈥� Courtney said. 鈥淓astern 黑料吃瓜网 by far has the highest number of non-military civilian federal employees.鈥�
The Naval Submarine Base in New London employs many veterans and civilians in the Department of Defense, Courtney said.
Courtney also spoke out against the proposed cuts to Medicaid.
鈥淚 used to do Medicaid budgets when I was in Hartford years ago, and that鈥檚 like a third of the funding stream that comes into the state.鈥�
黑料吃瓜网 resident, Lorra Jorden, said her son with disabilities relies on Medicaid for resources and accommodations. However, Jorden is worried that cuts to Medicaid could impact the .
鈥淢edicaid funds, 黑料吃瓜网 DDS, Department of Developmental Services, which in turn, helps my son,鈥� Jorden said.
A recent by the 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Social Services found the developmental disabilities sector is severely underfunded.
鈥淭here's almost like a tsunami of young adults, like my son, fresh out of high school, with higher needs,鈥� Jorden said. 鈥淚'm talking about the higher needs population coming into the system. Where will they go? Where will they live? What will happen to them when we parents are no longer here?鈥�
Other 黑料吃瓜网 residents like Ann Gruden, advisor and retired co-founder of the , are concerned about the impact federal cuts will have on environmental programs. Gruden stated data on ferrets the association relied on was removed during the first Trump administration.
鈥淚t was information on animals that were being used in laboratory research,鈥� Gruden said. 鈥淚t just disappeared. It was no longer there. When the Biden administration came back, that information came back out again.鈥�
Recent cuts have now put the black-footed ferret conservation program in the United States on the line, Gruden warned.
Gruden said it is strange that Musk can make decisions without security clearances. 鈥淎s far as I'm concerned, he has no business in there,鈥� Gruden said.
Kwame Housey, a public school cafeteria supervisor, expressed similar concerns as Gruden. Housey questioned how Musk got into a high-security position, 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 elect you to work for the President, and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 going on?鈥�
However, Housey, a Black American, believes all history should be taught.
A page of the website says schools are educating children in 鈥渞adical, anti-American ideologies,鈥� making children feel obligated to identify as either a victim or an oppressor because of their race.
Brushing over American history and acting as if certain parts did not happen is not helpful, Housey warned.
鈥淭hey need to keep those curriculums in there, and let these kids learn about this whole thing, about racism in slavery,鈥� Housey said. 鈥淪lavery that went on for years and years, and you're trying to make it seem like it didn't happen? No, it happened.鈥�
Exasperated, Housey said, 鈥淭his is people鈥檚 lives that he鈥檚 messing with the world.鈥�
鈥淚t leaves us vulnerable, and it also leaves us vulnerable to other nations taking the lead ahead of us. We have been a leader. That removed our standing in the world,鈥� Gruden said.
