House Republican leaders on Tuesday told rank-and-file lawmakers not to hold public meetings to avoid getting yelled at by their constituents. Republicans have been stung by voters at town halls complaining about billionaire Elon Musk’s attacks on federal agencies and Republican proposals to cut Medicaid benefits.

Canceling town halls is easy; governing effectively is hard. Republican leaders appear focused on the former, while expressing little interest in the latter.

Several prominent Republican officeholders are cautioning GOP lawmakers to avoid in-person town halls due to the potential for paid activists hijacking them.

WASHINGTON—Top House Republicans are urging GOP lawmakers to stop holding in-person town halls, a warning that comes after viral confrontations with constituents and Democratic activists over government layoffs and feared Medicaid cuts.