WASHINGTON (7News) — Newly laid-off workers and those still hanging on to federal jobs lined up to share their stories in a town hall Thursday night.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam organized the event in Haymarket, Virginia, to hear from constituents, many of whom urged him to fight back against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

One speaker, who works for the Internal Revenue Service, talked about walking 13 new members of his staff out of the building when they were suddenly laid off.

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Another speaker, a 20-year Navy veteran who lost his position with the Department of Agriculture, shared his disappointment over the impact the cuts have had on veterans, who make up nearly 30% of the federal workforce.

“There’s a cruelty in politics we haven’t seen in a long time,” said Rep. Subramanyum, responding to a question about disparaging remarks about government workers.

More than 700 people signed up for the town hall to describe how the Trump administration’s executive orders have impacted their families.

“If I wasn’t in Congress, I’d be yelling at the TV at home,” said Rep. Subramanyum. “I understand their anger.”

“Everything that came out of this is going turn into legislation,” he said. “It’s going to turn into action.”

Patty Kuntz was one of the dozens who spoke out.

Not only is she part of the Haymarket community, but she also sees the community’s growing food insecurity first-hand as a board member for the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry.

“(Food insecurity) is just continuing to grow, and if there are federal layoffs, they’re main employers of our area, we know we’re going to be serving more and more people.”

Subramanyum said that with daily cuts and some terminated workers being rehired, it’s difficult to say how many Virginians have lost their jobs so far, but he confirmed that so far, at least 300 former federal workers have applied for unemployment in Virginia.

Members of the panel directed those who have been laid off to visit this website.