WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The House subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency met Wednesday to examine U.S. foreign aid spending.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., chairwoman of the subcommittee, said the hearing comes as Americans are “shocked” to discover how their taxpayer dollars have been spent overseas.
The hearing follows the Department of Government Efficiency’s downsizing of the U.S. Agency for International Development as the Trump administration works to dismantle the agency that oversees foreign aid and development programs.
Greene opened the hearing about how USAID has been “weaponized” to undercut U.S. interests overseas.
“The Democrat-run USAID should not get to use our federal government, our US taxpayer dollars as their party piggy bank to push their radical agenda in countries that we have no business giving money to,” Greene said in her opening statements, adding that 96% of USAID employee political contributions go to democratic party candidates or PACs.
Additionally, she exposed what she described as the “dark truth” about USAID’s mission.
“USAID has been transformed into an America-last foreign aid slush fund to prop up extremist groups, implement censorship campaigns and interfere in foreign elections to force regime change around the world,” she said. “That is the dark truth about USAID. That is the story the American people need to know.”
Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., opened her remarks by welcoming the committee to “the Elon Musk chainsaw massacre.”
“This remake of a classic is terrible because it’s hurting real people and its lead character, Mr. Musk, hasn’t shown up in front of this committee or Congress at all,” she continued.
Democrats are questioning three witnesses, including Max Primorac, a Heritage Foundation research fellow who formerly served as USAID’s chief operating officer and is expected to argue that foreign aid organizations have weakened the U.S. influence.
“What I will do is show how the woke agenda harmed the American brand name. It made us synonymous with values that are rejected by most of the world,” Primorac told the Daily Signal.
Democrats defend aid amid USAID cuts
USAID is likely to be a major topic at the hearing. The agency has laid off thousands of workers and cut programs worldwide as the Trump administration continues its efforts to crack down on government spending.
A source shared a message with NewsNation that was sent to employees warning them to pack up in 15 minutes and to not bring any weapons.
USAID has seen its Washington, D.C., headquarters shuttered over the last month as thousands of its programs have collapsed worldwide.
While Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have criticized USAID for wasteful spending and pushing a liberal agenda, Democrats argue agencies like USAID play a critical role in maintaining U.S. influence abroad.
“We got the best military in the world, but we also have diplomacy, and we also have our international allies, our friends,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas. “But also, one big tool that the U.S. has is soft power. That is, being able to provide assistance to countries … it’s in our best interest.”
DOGE staffers resign over cuts
Amid the turmoil at DOGE, 21 staffers resigned Tuesday in protest of the widespread cuts the agency is spearheading, refusing to comply with the downsizing effort.
The employees, formerly with the U.S. Digital Services department, wrote in a letter, “We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” as first reported by The Associated Press.
In response, Musk labeled the staffers as “political holdovers” and claimed they would have been fired if they had not resigned.
Federal workers ‘do not deserve’ a paycheck: Marjorie Taylor Greene
Greene has recently come under fire for saying federal workers “do not deserve” their paychecks.
“Those jobs are paid for by the American tax people who work real jobs, earn real income, pay federal taxes, and then pay these federal employees. Federal employees do not deserve their jobs. Federal employees do not deserve their paychecks,” she said Tuesday during a House committee meeting.
Greene earns $174,000 annually as a member of Congress.
Amy Gleason named interim DOGE chief
Meanwhile, questions remain about the leadership of DOGE.
The White House confirmed Amy Gleason, a former U.S. Digital Services official, is the interim administrator of the agency.
A recent court filing indicated that Musk is not in charge but serves as a senior advisor to the president.