Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2) maintained that he would never vote to cut social net programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security during a tele-town hall he held on March 13.

In the tele-town hall, which his website said was his fifth such event since 2021, Van Drew responded to 16 questions that came from constituents to the congressman’s website. He says the remote access allowed by the technology promotes participation from across his large legislative district.

Across the country, a number of Republican town halls have witnessed physical protests. In Van Drew’s case, there was a rally outside his office in Northfield on March 13 at which roughly 300 protesters waved signs that claimed the congressman had broken his word by voting for budget bills that put programs like Medicaid at risk.

But Van Drew during the town hall reiterated a key position he said he has held since the Trump administration began massive cuts to the federal workforce and funding: He said he will never vote to cut Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.

He did acknowledge that he supports the attempts to reduce waste and abuse of public funds in those programs.

The congressman said he supports the continuing resolution and the Republican-drafted budget resolution and claimed any statements that these documents cut the three programs he has committed to are false.

Throughout the town hall he hit on the theme of ending waste of taxpayer dollars through the Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk. He said all final decisions belong to the president and Congress. More than once Van Drew said the effort should be one that uses a scalpel, not a sledgehammer.

His support for Musk’s department appears to indicate that he sees a scalpel in use, while opponents would argue that the dismantling of the federal workforce has been too widespread and quick for it to be part of a surgical procedure.

Van Drew attacked the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for failure to avoid energy shortages, soaring electricity prices and wasting subsidies on offshore wind projects.

He also criticized the Department of Justice for its actions under the Biden administration, reiterated his wholehearted support for Israel, said peace is necessary in Ukraine, where corrupt leadership is prolonging the war, and said that ideas about privatizing the Postal Service may need to be looked at even though no proposal exists now.

Van drew defended Trump’s tariffs, saying that the road may be “a little bumpy” while the president negotiates.

Those interested in hearing the entire town hall can do so here.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.