NW Kentucky News

The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) held its first hearing titled "The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud." The session focused on addressing the misuse of taxpayer funds through improper payments and fraud, which amount to hundreds of billions annually. Expert witnesses presented strategies to enhance payment systems, close loopholes, reduce fraud, and save taxpayers money.

Dawn Royal from the United Council on Welfare Fraud highlighted how some bureaucrats minimize issues in order to protect political interests. She stated, “Investigators have also found themselves at odds with the career bureaucrats who recite watered down facts about fraud in order to promote their political agendas.”

Rep. Michael Cloud praised President Trump and Elon Musk for their efforts in reducing government waste. He expressed gratitude towards Subcommittee Chairwoman Greene for advancing DOGE's agenda in Congress: “Thankfully with DOGE, we have a president bringing the leadership needed and a focused effort...”

Haywood Talcove from LexisNexis Risk Solutions proposed a three-step plan to regain control over federal payment systems: identity verification, eliminating self-certification, and continuous auditing. He said, “There’s no excuse for the government to lag if we do the following…”

Stewart Whitson from the Foundation for Government Accountability criticized policies by the Biden Administration that allegedly worsened improper payment issues. Rep. William Timmons accused former President Joe Biden of contributing to national debt through mismanagement of federal payment systems.

Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene pointed out disparities between public and private sector fraud rates during her questioning of Mr. Talcove. Rep. Tim Burchett criticized Democrats for defending wasteful practices.

Rep. Eric Burlison discussed how DOGE is positioned within the Executive Office to protect federal payment systems from abuse while Rep. Brian Jack emphasized updating outdated technological frameworks like those established by the 1974 Privacy Act.

Rep. Brandon Gill held the Biden Administration accountable for enabling abuses of taxpayer dollars: “The Democrat Party has for decades systematically grown and weaponized the administrative state against the American people…”

This hearing marks an initial step by DOGE in tackling inefficiencies within federal spending as they continue their "War on Waste."