The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) held a hearing in Washington titled “Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild.” The session addressed the allocation of taxpayer dollars to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) allegedly promoting agendas such as open borders and environmental policies like the Green New Deal. Witnesses testified about the connections between these NGOs and Democratic officials.
Scott Walter, President of Capital Research Center, stated that many NGOs receive significant funding from the federal government to support left-leaning political goals. “First, many NGOs—over 35,000 according to one study—receive most of their money from government, not citizens. Second, many NGOs serve the Big Government political agenda that fights to centralize power in Washington for the benefit of the Left’s preferred political party,” he testified.
Mark Krikorian from the Center for Immigration Studies highlighted how U.S. funds supported United Nations organizations that facilitated illegal immigration. “During the 2021-2025 administration of President Joe Biden, the United States devoted significant taxpayer funds to a network formed in 2019 that consisted of United Nations agencies and non-government organizations,” he said.
Daniel Turner, Executive Director of Power the Future, criticized what he described as a lack of oversight in green initiatives funded by taxpayer dollars. He noted that significant sums were allocated without Congressional approval or oversight.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), chairwoman of DOGE Subcommittee, emphasized ending what she called NGO slush funds. “This ongoing waste and abuse of taxpayer resources must end,” she asserted.
Scott Walter further argued for accountability regarding public spending on NGOs: “Business-as-usual with federal tax dollars sent unaccountably to big nonprofits disserves both government and the nonprofit sector.”
Witnesses called for Congress to act against NGOs undermining U.S. laws or engaging in politically motivated spending practices. Daniel Turner urged Congress to restore trust by ending such financial practices.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) discussed investigations into substantial grants provided under environmental programs with Daniel Turner, who referred to it as an extensive operation involving consultancy groups and other entities aligned with these organizations.
The hearing also featured exchanges between Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) and Diane Yentel regarding her social media posts and positions on various issues related to racism and youth programs.
The discussions highlighted concerns over transparency and accountability in how taxpayer funds are distributed among nongovernmental organizations perceived as having partisan objectives.
