Marjorie Taylor Greene Claims Justification for Mass Firings of Government Watchdogs

Trump and Musk Reshape Federal Agencies—Without Congress’ Approval

The newly formed congressional "DOGE" subcommittee convened for the first time on Wednesday, offering a glimpse into how Republicans are justifying former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s sweeping overhaul of federal agencies.

The subcommittee was created as a legislative counterpart to the "Department of Government Efficiency," a temporary organization established by Trump and led by Musk. This organization has embedded Musk’s aides into multiple federal agencies, granting them significant access to sensitive technology while implementing severe budget and personnel reductions—all without congressional approval.

While Democrats condemned the administration for unilaterally dismantling government agencies and handing excessive power to Musk, Republican members of the subcommittee largely sidestepped these concerns. However, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who chairs the subcommittee, provided insight into their defense. Megan Smith-USA TODAY

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Defense: Blaming National Debt for Mass Firings

When House Oversight Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) criticized Trump’s mass firing of 17 inspectors general—officials responsible for investigating governmental misconduct—Greene attempted to shift blame. “The president of the United States has the prerogative to fire anyone that has overseen $36 trillion in debt, enslaving the American people, and rightfully so,” she argued. However, inspectors general have no role in creating national debt, which results from legislation passed by Congress and signed by various presidents over time. Josh Morgan, Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Why Watchdogs Matter: The Cost of Firing Inspectors General

Federal law requires that Congress receive a 30-day notice and a detailed rationale before an inspector general is removed—procedures that Trump has reportedly ignored. In a lawsuit filed by several dismissed inspectors general, they argue that these terminations violated these legal protections. Additionally, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency found that every dollar spent on inspector general offices returns $26 in recovered taxpayer funds. O.J. / Wikimedia

Experts Raise Concerns Over Impact of Inspector General Firings

During the hearing, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) questioned Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, the director of government affairs at the Project on Government Oversight, about the consequences of Trump’s removals. “To put it simply, it completely undermines our ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse,” Hedtler-Gaudette said. He explained that the inspector general role was created in response to the Watergate scandal to ensure internal accountability within federal agencies. “It’s completely anathema to any stated mission to find cost savings and to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, to fire inspectors general and to undermine them. It makes no sense. Those two things do not add up.” US House of Representatives / Wikimedia

Lawmakers Question Firings of Inspectors General

Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) highlighted another potential conflict of interest in the firings: “At least five inspector generals that were looking into Elon Musk’s companies were fired by the Trump-Musk administration.” When confronted with this claim, Greene reiterated her stance, “The American people are $36 trillion in debt. It certainly seems reasonable that someone has been fired.” U.S. House of Representatives / Wikimedia