CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A group of protestors gathered outside the office of Congressman Aaron Bean in Fleming Island on Thursday to voice concerns about his involvement with a federal agency seeking access to Social Security data.
The demonstration, organized by Clay County Democrats, focused on Bean’s role as co-chair of the House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus, which has faced criticism for its attempts to obtain information about Social Security recipients, among broader complaints.
Recommended Videos
RELATED | Veterans are speaking out on the Trump administration’s plans to cut the VA’s budget
Jackie Cetnar, chair of the Clay County Democratic Party, explained that the rally was organized because Bean “does not stand up for our counties on the issues at hand.”
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, was a focus of the protest due to his role in President Trump’s efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), despite not being an elected official. Protestors were concerned about his influence on local policies.
One of the protestors also said Bean hasn’t been easily accessible.
“I’ve called his offices for weeks. No one answers, and the mailboxes are full,” they said.
Veterans at the protest also voiced their concerns.
Retired Air Force veteran John Derin criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The VA in Washington is an abomination and needs to be rectified,” Derin said.
Rebecca Taylor added that planned VA job cuts could delay critical benefits, including her pending PACT Act claim.
RELATED | Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 employees from Veterans Affairs, according to internal memo
Additionally, some protestors accused Bean of supporting policies that could lead to deforestation and environmental harm.
Many protestors called for direct answers from Bean, expressing frustration over his perceived unresponsiveness to their attempts to reach him.
“How great it is that we live in a country where we can protest and disagree?” Bean in a written statement to News4JAX. “I, however, stand by my efforts to end waste, fraud, and abuse in our spending, secure our border, unleash American energy, lower costs, and extend the Trump tax cuts. And so, while this group was protesting, I have been in Washington, D.C., voting, meeting constituents and focused on making America great again.”
