“A lot of people who are in Congress are afraid to have meetings like this,” Thompson told the assembled crowd.
Thompson represents the state’s second congressional district. He started the event discussing fear that democracy has come under threat due to policies stemming from the Trump administration, including the idea of cuts to programs like Social Security.
“It's been here for 90 years,” he said. “We've never had a check bounce. So what is there to fix?”
Thompson was open about his opposition to the federal changes spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, including the dismantling of USAID.
“Guess who's the largest purchaser of rice here in Mississippi?” he asked. “USAID. Wow. You understand? So, they think the rice is bad because people overseas eating it. But folks in Mississippi and Louisiana raising it, and the government paying them.”
Thompson noted that Washington County was also home to federal workers, who he believes are being treated unfairly, in the wake of a reduction in the federal workforce.
“Normally when you eliminate jobs, you come up with a plan,” he said, referencing DOGE’s involvement with the elimination of certain federal positions. “We've had no plan. I think it's that uncertainty with eliminating the job that says, in a democracy, we ought to do better.”
Many of the second district constituents present at the event agreed with Thompson’s assessment, and used the town hall as an opportunity to voice emotional concerns about changes in Washington.
Mara Scott-Campbell works for a company based in Jackson that was receiving federal assistance to provide birth control and STD screenings to at-risk populations.
“We found out last month that our funds were frozen because of that,” she said to audible gasps from the audience. “Starting May 1st, half of our staff will be furloughed and the other half of us are taking a 25% pay cut. The lawsuits have been filed, but my question is what can be done?”
Another audience member asked Thompson how community development projects could be restored under the Trump administration.
Lawrence Hudson, the superintendent of the Western Line School District, told Thompson that he was concerned with the dissolution of COVID-19 related federal grants.
“What's the conversation with the U.S. Department of Education in order to restore ESSER funds that were cut from school districts and the projects that we are in the middle of,” he asked.
Thompson said he believed the Trump administration held responsibility for most of the grievances that were brought up, including federal education funding.
“That's clearly Donald Trump,” he said. “That's his baby. But also, he wants to get rid of the U.S. Department of Education. Look, education is our way out. Our kids in the Delta can't make it often on just the state and local taxes. They got to have federal support, or else we will definitely be behind.”
Yet, Thompson also encouraged those gathered at the town hall to become more politically outspoken.
“You got to be vocal,” he said. “You got to see it in your churches. But ultimately, you gotta go to court. At every opportunity there's a chance to vote.”
Thompson urged the audience to protect their benefits, including the Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Not every audience member agreed with Congressman Thompson. Ulysses Washington of Greenville says he believes the lawmaker misconstrued the Trump administration’s policies and agenda during the town hall.
“I didn't agree with him lying about Trump,” he said. “I'm a military vet myself, 100% disabled. I can automatically tell you he’s lying about taking the benefits from the veterans. Also, he's lying about the Medicaid benefits.”
Washington says he also believes the town hall was overly critical of conservatives.
“You can't have a reasonable debate or a reasonable town hall if you don't let the opposition, people who think differently, question you,” he said.
Congress will resume April 28.
