the Full Committee to Consider the Following: 1) Authorization & Oversight Plan of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

House Rules and Floor ProcedureHouse Oversight and Government Reform · 2025-02-25 · 119th Congress
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform met to mark up and adopt its authorization and oversight plan for the 119th Congress, a document required at the start of each Congress that sets the committee's investigative priorities. Begins at 0:16:38
Transcript
Highlights

Title

House Oversight Committee Markup of 119th Congress Oversight Plan

Purpose

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform met to mark up and adopt its authorization and oversight plan for the 119th Congress, a document required at the start of each Congress that sets the committee's investigative priorities. Chairman James Comer (R-KY) offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to his own plan, while Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-VA) prepared a competing amendment focused on oversight of Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Trump administration; the session included procedural fights, a disparagement ruling against Rep. Maxwell Frost, and multiple recorded votes before the plan was adopted and the committee recessed for a separate hearing. Begins at0:16:38

Who spoke

Chairman James Comer (R-KY)0:17:39: Said Democrats were offered a week to review the draft plan and to add minority views but declined, calling their approach "Stonewall and theater"0:18:39; listed the plan's topic areas including waste/fraud/abuse, federal workforce, GAO, USPS, and cybersecurity0:20:40, and cited a poll showing public support for Trump and DOGE0:21:40.

Ranking Member Gerry Connolly (D-VA)0:22:10: Called the majority's plan a "unilateral retreat from Article One" oversight duties0:23:11; said he would offer a substitute amendment addressing the firing of 17 inspectors general0:24:12 and Musk's roughly $300 million in campaign donations0:26:13; later noted Democrats made over 100 information requests in the past month0:28:13.

Rep. (Mr. Mengo, per transcript)0:29:14: Argued the committee's plan ignores Trump firing "nearly a quarter" of inspectors general0:30:14 and the Judge Advocate Generals of the military branches0:30:14; said he introduced the "Bad DOGE Act" to address DOGE's authority over congressional appropriations0:32:16, and raised Musk's alleged conflicts involving the FAA, California Coastal Commission, and a $6.6 billion federal loan to Rivian0:33:16.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI)0:33:47: Argued that if federal employees are found doing little work, the executive branch should be able to terminate them without reporting each firing to Congress0:34:470:36:18.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)0:36:48: Noted that presidents have long used unconfirmed advisors, comparing Musk's role to Ezekiel Emanuel's under the Affordable Care Act0:36:48.

Rep. (Chris Deluzio-style, "Chris Morte," from Illinois, per transcript)0:37:19: Raised concern about firing 200,000 probationary federal workers at once0:37:19; cited Washington Post reporting on a possible Trump administration move to privatize or absorb USPS leadership and requested a hearing on the topic0:38:19.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)0:40:51: Said 72% of Americans support cutting waste, fraud, and abuse and cited $36 trillion in national debt0:41:51; argued federal employees "do not deserve their jobs" if inefficient0:42:52.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL)0:43:52: Criticized cuts to Medicaid, noting over 35% of children nationally and 100,000+ people in his district are covered by it0:44:22; referred to Musk and Trump using terms ruled a disparagement of the president, leading to his words being struck from the record and a point of order0:45:22.

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA)0:45:22: Raised the initial point of order regarding Frost's language about Musk and the president0:45:22.

The Chairman (ruling from the chair)0:47:55: Ruled Frost's words disparaging toward the president were not parliamentary and ordered them stricken from the record0:48:59, prompting Connolly to move to challenge the ruling, which was tabled by a 20–19 recorded vote0:49:30.

Rep. Cory Mills (referred to as "Mr. Maguire" in transcript)0:56:06: Argued Trump is delivering results and listed accomplishments including 72 executive orders and Senate confirmation of 19 cabinet nominees0:58:09; described USPS delivery problems affecting a health clinic's prescription mailings in his district0:57:08.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM)0:58:39: Raised a parliamentary inquiry to clarify that the recorded vote tabled Connolly's motion challenging the chair's ruling striking Frost's words0:58:39.

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX)1:00:10: Moved the previous question to end debate, which passed 20–19 by recorded vote1:00:10.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)1:47:41: After the recess, defended the chairman's handling of decorum, comparing frustrations to past disputes over the Paris Climate Accord and Iran nuclear deal1:47:41, and said members bear consequences for their own remarks1:48:42.

A new committee member (unnamed in transcript)1:54:43: Asked for clarification on what language is permissible regarding the president, referencing Melania Trump's Amazon deal and Trump's felony conviction, questioning whether "grifter" or "convicted felon" would be permissible1:54:43.

Key moments

Comer said Democrats were given a week to review the draft oversight plan and an offer to add minority views, but declined both opportunities0:18:39.

Connolly announced plans to offer a substitute amendment centered on DOGE and Musk, citing the firing of "17 inspectors general across 18 agencies"0:24:12.

A member cited Musk's alleged failure of a "high-level security clearance because of rampant drug use and close ties to Russian and Chinese leaders"0:32:46, and a $6.6 billion federally guaranteed loan to Rivian being canceled alongside a new $400 million armored Cyber Truck contract0:33:160:33:47.

Greene stated "72% of Americans" support cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, and cited $36 trillion in national debt0:41:51.

Frost's remarks referring to Musk and Trump prompted Higgins's point of order; the chair ruled the language disparaging toward the president and struck it from the record0:47:550:48:59.

Connolly's motion to challenge the chair's ruling was tabled by a 20–19 recorded vote0:55:36.

A motion by Fallon to move the previous question, ending debate on Connolly's substitute amendment, passed 20–191:06:16.

The committee recessed for floor votes and later reconvened; Connolly stated the minority had been denied the chance to have its alternative plan considered1:47:41.

The amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Comer was adopted 22–171:52:08.

The plan as amended was adopted by the committee 22–18, and Connolly announced he would file minority views under House Rule 11, Clause 2(l)1:53:43.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Oversight and Government Reform
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
Date2025-02-25
TypeMarkup
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript122 caption blocks · 8,556 words · 1:56:40 runtime
EventCongress.gov 117954