“Drain the swamp” has long been one of President Donald Trump’s signature slogans. But now that billionaire Elon Musk is orchestrating mass layoffs of federal workers, it’s not clear that rhetoric translates into popular policy.

At town halls from Missouri to Georgia to Oklahoma, constituents of Republican lawmakers have shown up to protest Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency’s aggressive efforts to slash government spending. More than 20,000 workers have been laid off so far, and almost 1 million people who reside in states that Trump won in 2024 could ultimately be affected.

That raises the question: Will DOGE’s cuts hurt the Republican party in the long run?

At least a few GOP lawmakers seem to be concerned they will. Some, including

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