Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene opened a hearing on the use of federal funds by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to advance what she described as a radical agenda. Greene, representing Georgia, delivered remarks at the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) hearing titled "Public Funds, Private Agendas: NGOs Gone Wild." She accused left-wing NGOs and Democrat officials of using taxpayer money to support policies that many Americans oppose.
Greene stated, "The Left has funneled hundreds of billions of federal tax dollars through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to push destructive policies and line the pockets of their friends and allies."
She claimed that these NGOs have been part of a cycle where they receive grants and contracts from Democrat administrations, then donate to Democrat political campaigns. Greene suggested that this connection between government agencies and NGOs blurs the lines between public and private sectors.
"Our witnesses today will describe how the Left has funneled hundreds of billions of U.S. tax dollars through NGOs, discuss the destructive policies this has enabled, and detail the damage done to our country," she said.
Greene specifically criticized green energy NGOs for allegedly destabilizing the U.S. power grid with federal funds. She mentioned that under President Biden's administration, significant sums were directed towards climate-focused nonprofits through initiatives like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
"While we are grateful to the Trump Administration and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for shutting it down and quickly terminating these grants, further accountability is necessary," Greene added.
The hearing also addressed issues related to illegal immigration. Greene accused federally funded NGOs of aiding illegal immigration by providing various services to undocumented individuals crossing into the United States.
"The American taxpayer is funding groups that start the 'migration'—the groups that show people how to cross the border by evading U.S. immigration laws," she stated.
In her concluding remarks, Greene emphasized ending what she termed as ongoing wasteful spending through NGO slush funds.
"This ongoing waste and abuse of taxpayer resources must end," she concluded.
The subcommittee aims to investigate these allegations further in an effort to halt such practices. The full Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is currently investigating related matters involving President Biden’s GGRF initiative.
