The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee convened for its first hearing today, marking the beginning of an investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending. Texas Rep. Michael Cloud (R), a member of DOGE, delivered strong remarks condemning what he described as decades of reckless government spending and bureaucratic obstruction.
“For far too long, DC politicians have gotten away with measuring their personal value and worth by how much of other people’s money they give away,” he said during the hearing, criticizing government officials for prioritizing virtue signaling over responsible fiscal management. The Texas lawmaker also argued that taxpayer dollars have been misused in the name of altruistic government programs.
For too long, those of us exposing waste, fraud, and abuse have battled an unconstitutional fourth branch of government—DC’s permanent bureaucracy, which ignores, delays, and obstructs our oversight.
DOGE is now uncovering the extent of the corruption and the extent to which DC… pic.twitter.com/grdoNEg57s
— Congressman Michael Cloud (@RepCloudTX) February 12, 2025
Rep. Cloud took aim at the maligned bureaucratic system, which he referred to as an “unconstitutional fourth branch of permanent bureaucracy.” He accused government agencies of deliberately obstructing efforts to increase oversight and transparency, which has made it difficult to hold officials accountable for wasteful spending.
“Over the last few weeks, the DOGE effort has begun to uncover not only how massive the waste, fraud, and abuse is, but also the extent at which DC politicians and too many obstinate bureaucrats have coordinated essentially the largest money laundering scheme in history,” Rep. Cloud commented.
The subcommittee’s investigations are expected to focus on questionable federal expenditures, including foreign aid distribution, grant allocations, and federal contract awards.
Lawmakers aligned with the House Freedom Caucus have long advocated for significant budget cuts and increased scrutiny of federal spending, and this hearing signals a renewed push to hold agencies accountable for inefficient and potentially fraudulent practices.
As Americans grapple with rising costs of living, Rep. Cloud and his colleagues insist that taxpayers deserve greater transparency and fiscal responsibility from their elected officials.
Since joining DOGE, Rep. Cloud has championed the bipartisan subcommittee's goals despite the negative criticism it has received from Democrats.
