Jasmine Crockett: Republicans Have 'Put Their Country On A Path To A Recession'

2 days ago

At today's House DOGE Committee hearing, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) blasted President Trump and Republicans' actions.

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Transcript

00:00I'll recognize Ms. Crockett from Texas for five minutes.

00:03Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

00:04And I can tell you one thing that is crumbling for the city of D.C.

00:07was that continuing resolution that defunded approximately a billion dollars from them.

00:12But I will focus on today's hearing.

00:14The Republicans' recklessness and chaotic approach to reducing the size of government

00:20has shown us what we've already known.

00:23Concepts of a plan don't work.

00:25This is the committee's fourth hearing, and still no one from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency

00:30has testified before this committee about their plans to break the federal government

00:35because, as it turns out, breaking the federal government doesn't just hurt people you don't like.

00:41It's not just going to be Democrats who miss out on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security

00:47or only Democratic veterans who will miss out on their VA benefits.

00:52Their approach will negatively impact all Americans.

00:55So it's unfortunate that Republicans have taken a seemingly bipartisan issue

00:59and included it as part of their scam to subsidize tax giveaways for billionaires.

01:04They haven't proposed anything that will improve the efficiency of the government.

01:10Instead, they have put the country on a path to a recession

01:13and implemented the largest tax increase on Americans in decades through Trump's tariffs.

01:18This hearing is their latest attempt to try to convince the American people

01:22that dismantling public-facing agencies will somehow improve government efficiency.

01:28Let me tell you, it won't.

01:30There's nothing efficient about terminating leases for IRS taxpayer assistance centers during tax season,

01:36nor dismantling farmer support offices in rural communities

01:40while farmers are trying to survive Trump's tariffs.

01:43And just like their trade policy, there isn't any logic or strategy

01:47behind the Trump administration's reductions in force

01:51or accelerated disposal of federally owned property.

01:55It has been discussed that managing federal property

01:57has been on GAO's high-risk list for more than two decades.

02:01Currently, GAO has almost 60 recommendations that the administration could fully implement,

02:07but decided to ignore it.

02:08And I'm going to veer off for two seconds because all I kept hearing was fire.

02:13Fire, fire, fire is what I heard.

02:15And as I heard fire, it seems like we are talking about an administration

02:20that has been hell-bent on firing government workers.

02:23They are hell-bent on engaging in fire sales of our government buildings.

02:28And while we are at it, they are lighting the Social Security on fire,

02:33Medicaid on fire, Medicare on fire, 401ks on fire, Department of Education on fire.

02:40And instead, what we need to light on fire are Trump's tariffs.

02:45In fact, we could probably go a little bit further and fire this incompetent administration.

02:51But if we are going to talk about efficiency and worry about some solar-paneled whatevers,

02:58let's talk about the fact that as of March 30th,

03:03Trump's golfing has cost us approximately $26 million.

03:08And the last time I checked, we're not getting anything in return for that.

03:12So I will get back on my remarks, but I just wanted to point out

03:16that maybe we need to talk about the president and his golfing habits.

03:19In fact, he decided that he was going to golf as the markets were tanking.

03:25He decided he was going to golf instead of receiving four heroes who died serving this country.

03:31He has decided that he wanted to play games while the rest of us

03:35are really trying to make sure that we can serve the American people.

03:39So, Mr. Maroney, you were quoted in the New York Times article dated March 17th,

03:43stating that it is important for officials to have a plan to generate the most savings

03:48and that, quote, all of these moving parts point to the need for some deliberate planning.

03:53Did the administration consult with GAO regarding their plans

03:57to dispose of hundreds of federally-owned buildings?

04:00No.

04:01In your testimony, you highlight that one of the core issues associated with managing federal property

04:06is the lack of reliable data to support decision-making.

04:09Is that correct?

04:11Yes.

04:11Would reducing GSA's workforce by 50% improve data gathering and analysis?

04:19I cannot say they're not.

04:21That's perfectly fine.

04:23We know that we need experts and not idiots, but, Mr. Kendall, we will move on.

04:27In your written testimony, you state some of the actions of this administration suggest

04:32that the administration is not following a strategy designed to save taxpayer money

04:36and that the administration seems to ignore the agency's mission integrity.

04:40Why do you think that?

04:43In the list of projects, there were a couple score social security offices, IRS, taxpayer service offices,

04:53which those agencies, those end-user agencies, wanted,

04:57and yet the administration is canceling those leases.

05:01So, it does imperil mission accomplishment.

05:03Thank you so much.

05:05I'll be back.

Jasmine Crockett: Republicans Have 'Put Their Country On A Path To A Recession'

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