Fresh off a meeting with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is gearing up to lead a new subcommittee focused on government efficiency. The Georgia Republican, a staunch conservative and vocal figure within the party, will spearhead the Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee as it embarks on its mission to curb wasteful spending and fraudulent payments within federal programs.
The subcommittee’s first hearing, scheduled for Wednesday, will address what Greene calls the “scourge of improper payments and fraud.” According to her, billions of taxpayer dollars are lost each year due to inefficiencies, with funds being directed to deceased individuals, criminal organizations operating overseas, and other improper recipients.
“We’re looking at hundreds of billions of dollars annually … to anyone from dead people to criminal rings that are operating out of foreign countries and the gamut in between,” Greene said in an interview.
Over the next two months, the panel plans to hold at least four hearings, each aimed at scrutinizing federal spending and reducing what Greene sees as unnecessary government waste. As she takes the reins of this subcommittee, Greene is also working to bolster her reputation as a serious legislator after years of controversy and political turbulence.
Federal cuts stir political tensions
Greene’s involvement in Musk’s initiative—dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has already sparked debate within both parties. While many Republicans praise the effort to cut down on government waste, some are beginning to voice concerns as the effects of federal job reductions start to hit close to home. Despite this, Greene remains unmoved, challenging critics from both sides of the aisle to take a stand against efficiency measures that she argues will ultimately benefit taxpayers.
“Those are taxpayer-funded jobs,” Greene said, dismissing concerns over government positions being eliminated. “Those only exist because people that pay taxes, their money is being used for grants and all kinds of funding, right? Those aren’t real jobs.”
Democrats, meanwhile, have been critical of Musk’s role in shaping federal spending cuts, and Greene anticipates they will use upcoming hearings as a political battleground. However, she is undeterred and even welcomes the debate, confident that her stance on fiscal responsibility will resonate with voters.
“If [Democrats] want to come in a hearing and yell about Elon Musk and DOGE—that is trying to save the American people their hard-earned tax dollars—let them do it,” Greene said. “Because I can tell you right now, Americans will not be happy with it, and if they want to make that their issue, I’d love to win the midterms.”
Greene’s leadership of the DOGE subcommittee also comes at a pivotal moment in her political career. Stripped of her committee assignments four years ago due to her controversial statements and promotion of conspiracy theories, she now faces the challenge of rebranding herself as a serious policymaker. Some within her own party have expressed concerns that her position atop such a high-profile panel could prove to be a distraction rather than an asset.
However, this new role may serve as a launching pad for Greene’s future political ambitions. In a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she left the door open to a potential run for Senate or governor, signaling that she sees her work on government efficiency as part of a broader strategy to elevate her standing within the Republican Party. As the DOGE subcommittee begins its work, all eyes will be on Greene to see whether she can turn this opportunity into a defining moment in her political career.
