NW Kentucky News

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer recently delivered an opening statement at the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency's (DOGE) inaugural hearing. The session, titled "The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud," marks a significant step in addressing government inefficiencies.

Chairman Comer praised President Trump's efforts to provide Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency with necessary tools for a comprehensive government audit. He emphasized that this hearing is crucial for identifying solutions to the issue of improper payments, which have been a costly problem for years.

In his prepared remarks, Chairman Comer thanked DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Greene for organizing this important event. He stated, "President Trump won an electoral landslide with a clear mandate from the American people to eliminate Washington waste and stop the theft of taxpayer dollars." According to Comer, President Trump is fulfilling his promise by empowering Musk and DOGE to find ways to curb waste and safeguard taxpayer money.

Comer highlighted the urgency of tackling this issue due to the $37 trillion national debt. He noted that since 2003, $2.7 trillion has been lost due to improper payments, with funds being diverted by fraudsters, organized criminals, hostile foreign actors, and even government employees.

While both Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee have historically criticized such waste, Comer pointed out that some Democrats are now defending bureaucratic norms instead of supporting reform efforts. He expressed gratitude towards Chairwoman Greene for her role in exposing these issues and seeking solutions.

"We stand with President Trump and DOGE in the fight to end waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington," Comer concluded before yielding back to Chairwoman Greene.