DOGE subcommittee holds first hearing slamming $36T national debt, as House Republicans declare ‘war on waste’

The First Hearing of the House Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency

The House Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency held its first hearing on Wednesday, marking a new frontier in the ongoing debate over the nation’s soaring $36 trillion national debt. The hearing highlighted stark divisions between Republicans and Democrats, with both sides presenting differing visions for addressing government waste and inefficiency. Chairwoman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-S.C.) opened the session with a frank assessment of the debt crisis, asserting that both political parties bear responsibility for the nation’s financial plight. “This is not a time for political theater and partisan attacks,” Greene declared. “The American people are watching.” She emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to address what she called a “sinking ship” of debt, while also pledging to work closely with President Donald Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.

Greene criticized the federal government’s spending practices, arguing that bureaucrats and elected officials operate under different rules than everyday Americans and private businesses. “The federal government’s income is the American people’s hard-earned tax dollars,” she said. “Their literal blood, sweat, and tears and taxes are collected by law at gunpoint.” She accused the government of failing to provide accountability or value to taxpayers, adding that federal employees continue to receive paychecks regardless of performance. Greene vowed that her subcommittee would take aggressive action to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, framing the effort as a moral imperative to protect future generations from the burden of debt.

Democrats Push Back Against Trump and Musk’s Approach

While Republicans emphasized the need for drastic reforms, Democrats on the subcommittee expressed sharp criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of government efficiency. Rep. Melanie Stanbury (D-N.M.), the subcommittee’s highest-ranking Democrat, agreed on the need to address improper payments and fraud but slammed what she described as reckless and illegal actions by Trump and Musk. “We can’t just sit here today and pretend like everything is normal,” Stanbury said. She accused the administration of dismantling federal agencies, firing workers, withholding vital funds, and compromising sensitive data systems. Stanbury argued that the Republican-led effort was undermining critical government functions and putting vulnerable communities at risk.

Despite the partisan tensions, Stanbury expressed willingness to collaborate on bipartisan solutions to address improper payments, which she noted total more than $236 billion annually. However, she made it clear that Democrats would not endorse the Trump administration’s methods, which she characterized as polarizing and harmful. The exchange underscored the deep ideological divide over how to balance fiscal responsibility with the need for effective governance. While Republicans framed their efforts as a necessary reset, Democrats portray them as an attack on the very fabric of government.

DOGE Exposes Stunning Examples of Government Waste

The hearing also featured testimony from Stephen Whitson of the Foundation for Government Accountability, who highlighted several shocking examples of government waste uncovered by DOGE. These included $59 million spent on luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal immigrants, $1.5 million allocated for diversity and inclusion initiatives in Serbia, $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru, and $10 million in food assistance funneled to al Qaeda. Whitson accused the left of attempting to demonize Musk to divert attention from what he called “disastrous waste, fraud, and abuse” that occurred under the Biden administration. However, he acknowledged that Medicaid waste and fraud remain a critical focus, with improper payments costing taxpayers over $1 trillion in the next decade.

Whitson attributed over 80% of improper Medicaid payments to eligibility errors and called on Congress to take immediate action to address the issue. He objected to Biden-era rules that restrict states’ ability to verify Medicaid eligibility, arguing that these regulations have opened the door to widespread abuse, including allowing illegal immigrants to receive benefits. Whitson testified that states are prohibited from verifying eligibility more than once a year and are barred from conducting in-person or phone interviews to confirm recipients’ identities. He also noted that states must wait at least 90 days—and in some cases up to 13 years—before verifying whether a recipient is an illegal immigrant.

A Call to Action for Congress

Whitson offered three key recommendations for Congress to support Trump’s DOGE initiative. First, he urged lawmakers to repeal Biden’s Medicaid streamlining rule, which he argued has made it harder for states to verify eligibility and prevent fraud. Repealing this rule, he testified, could save taxpayers $164 billion over the next decade. Second, Whitson called on Congress to empower the president to fire unproductive or insubordinate federal employees and consolidate nonessential positions to improve efficiency. “Personnel is policy,” he said, “and without competent staff to faithfully execute the president’s agenda, the DOGE project will fail.” Finally, Whitson advocated for the passage of the REINS Act, which would make Trump’s cost-cutting and deregulatory reforms permanent and prevent future presidents from undoing them with a stroke of a pen.

Historical Context and the Path Forward

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) added historical context to the debate by playing archived videos of former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama pledging to reduce the federal workforce and cut waste during their respective administrations. In a 2011 speech, Obama spoke about his “Campaign to Cut Waste,” emphasizing the need for systematic efforts to root out wasteful spending. Burlison used the clips to challenge Democrats to reconsider their opposition to Trump’s reforms, reminding them of a time when reducing waste enjoyed bipartisan support. “This is not a new concept,” he said. “We’re trying to get better results for the American people.”

The hearing concluded with no clear resolution, but it laid bare the deepening partisan divide over how to address government waste and the national debt. Republicans remain committed to Trump and Musk’s aggressive approach, while Democrats warn of the dangers of dismantling critical government functions. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the path forward will require difficult choices and a willingness to collaborate—a challenging proposition in today’s polarized political landscape.