Moran talks DOGE, tariffs, election integrity and more during telephone town hall

An estimated 10,000 East Texans tuned in this week to a telephone town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, who took questions on DOGE and federal budget cuts, tariffs, election integrity and more.

性视界传媒淧eople said, 性视界传媒榃hy don性视界传媒檛 you do an in-person town hall?性视界传媒� Well, I do,性视界传媒� said Moran, a Republican from Tyler who represents Gregg, Smith and other area counties. 性视界传媒淲e try to do both tele-town hall and in-person. We性视界传媒檙e going to do more of that this year 性视界传媒� the first half of the year is just really tough because we性视界传媒檙e in Washington D.C. a lot until the end of July.性视界传媒�

DOGE

Several concerned callers asked questions about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk性视界传媒檚 role in government, emphasizing how spending cuts could affect Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP benefits and have impacted local food banks.

Moran said he recognizes how important these programs are for many people and talked about working to find a balance between saving money and protecting these vital services.

性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 kind of like spring cleaning,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淚f you性视界传媒檙e going to do appropriate spring cleaning, you have to pull everything out of the garage性视界传媒ou got to look at everything as it sits in your driveway to figure out what have I used recently that I性视界传媒檓 going to use again, that is of value to me, that I need to put back and what is it that I need to put on the curb to go to the dump.性视界传媒�

Republicans and Democrats have pushed everything aside in the 性视界传媒済arage性视界传媒� for the past 40 years, Moran said. The process of removing everything from the 性视界传媒済arage性视界传媒� can be painful at first. However, Moran believes some of the items targeted for cuts will be returned once the cleaning is done.

性视界传媒淒on性视界传媒檛 react initially, because there is a reset here,性视界传媒� Moran said. 性视界传媒淭he only way to reset it from all the overspending is to swing the pendulum back and then find the sweet spot where we need to focus 性视界传媒� where are the core responsibilities of the government.性视界传媒�

When Moran was the Smith County judge, he said supporting the East Texas Food Bank was a priority.

Some of the decisions made over the past few months have been tough on the nonprofit organization.

As rebuilding happens, it性视界传媒檚 a priority for Moran to ensure needy people have access to programs such as those offered by the food bank.

Moran said that people have become dependent on the federal government to handle things that should probably be managed by the private sector. He also mentioned that while people want the government to address the national debt and spending, they don性视界传媒檛 want it to affect their own lives.

Moran said the department Musk is heading was created during the Obama administration but renamed. Musk will only maintain his role for the duration of his appointment, but the Department of Government Efficiency will continue after he leaves.

DOGE identifies cuts and refers them to department heads 性视界传媒� it doesn性视界传媒檛 cut federal employees directly, Moran said.

Tariffs

Callers asked if tariffs would make domestically and internationally produced products more expensive.

Moran explained that tariffs are essentially a tax, and consumers will always end up paying for that tax. He expressed hope that it does not lead to a long-term tariff war as an economic strategy. As a negotiating strategy, it serves as a 性视界传媒渞eset性视界传媒� on the world economic stage.

性视界传媒淚 believe it性视界传媒檚 working already, and I am glad the president is using the strong arm,性视界传媒� Moran said.

President Donald Trump is not starting a trade war, Moran said. European and other countries have imposed tremendous tariffs on American products to keep them out of markets. Trump is looking for reciprocity, ensuring other countries treat U.S. products fairly.

性视界传媒淭hey are afraid to compete, frankly, with American manufacturers and producers,性视界传媒� Moran said.

SAVE Act

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act), which is co-sponsored by Moran, would strengthen election security, improve voter ID laws and ensure the integrity of the voting process in U.S. elections, he said.

The measure was introduced in the House in January.

A caller raised concerns that organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, which defends and preserves individual rights and freedoms, believes the bill might make it difficult or even prevent people who have changed their names from voting. The caller pointed out that not everyone has the means or documentation to change his or her name on official records.

The caller also asked if someone tried to use state identification cards or birth certificates but the names didn性视界传媒檛 match if he or she wouldn性视界传媒檛 be able to register to vote.

Moran said this is a false rumor propagated on social media.

He said the bill would require people to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote. Currently, the law states people must be citizens to vote, but there is no system in place to provide proof 性视界传媒� it性视界传媒檚 just a box to check off.

The bill would change that by requiring actual documentation to verify citizenship during the voter registration process.

Documents that can be used to prove U.S. citizenship include a U.S. passport, a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory, a naturalization certificate and a certificate of citizenship or a consular report of birth abroad for those born to U.S. citizens outside of the country.

性视界传媒淭he notation that people that get married and change their name won性视界传媒檛 be able to [register to vote], that性视界传媒檚 false too, because there is a (document) trail about that change of name,性视界传媒� Moran said. 性视界传媒淭here性视界传媒檚 a lot of myths that are going around.性视界传媒�