Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative against explosive accusations from Rep. Maxine Waters, who claimed he allowed “strangers” unfettered access to sensitive federal data systems in a heated May 2025 congressional hearing that exposed the left’s desperation to derail common-sense government reform.
Story Highlights
- Waters accused Bessent of granting DOGE personnel unauthorized access to Treasury, IRS, and CFPB systems, raising data security concerns
- Bessent firmly rebutted claims, clarifying all individuals were properly vetted Treasury employees with read-only access, not outsiders
- The exchange began awkwardly with Bessent reminding Waters of their New Year’s Eve meeting in the Bahamas where she danced the Electric Slide
- Waters sent five unanswered letters to Treasury before the hearing, highlighting administration communication gaps Democrats exploit for partisan attacks
- The clash underscores Democratic resistance to President Trump’s efficiency reforms aimed at cutting bloated federal bureaucracy and wasteful spending
Democrats Attack Government Efficiency Reforms
The House Financial Services Committee hearing on May 7-8, 2025, showcased typical Democratic obstruction tactics against President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative. Rep. Maxine Waters aggressively questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about personnel associated with DOGE, the efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to slash unnecessary federal spending and streamline bureaucracy. Waters claimed Bessent allowed “strangers” into Treasury systems without proper security clearances, a serious charge designed to undermine reforms that threaten entrenched Washington interests and the administrative state Democrats have built over decades.
Bessent Defends Proper Security Protocols
Bessent forcefully pushed back against Waters’ accusations, stating unequivocally: “There is no such thing as a DOGE employee… They were Treasury employees” who underwent proper vetting procedures. He clarified that individuals like Tom Krauss and a 25-year-old former Musk associate were officially hired as Treasury staff with appropriate clearances and limited read-only access to systems. This undermines the manufactured scandal Democrats attempted to create around efficiency reforms. The facts show the Trump administration followed established protocols while working to eliminate the waste and corruption that flourished under Biden-era policies prioritizing bureaucratic expansion over taxpayer interests and fiscal responsibility.
Personal History Adds Awkward Dimension
The hearing took an unusual turn when Bessent reminded Waters of their personal connection, referencing a New Year’s Eve party in the Bahamas where Waters “killed it” dancing the Electric Slide with her husband, a former Clinton-appointed ambassador. Waters appeared uncomfortable with this reminder, claiming not to recall the event despite Bessent’s vivid recollection. This awkward exchange highlighted the hypocrisy of Waters’ aggressive posture—attacking an official she previously socialized with in elite circles. It also exposed the cozy relationships between career politicians and financial elites that conservatives rightly criticize, even as Democrats weaponize oversight hearings for partisan theater rather than genuine accountability.
Waters Attempts to Silence Testimony
When Bessent attempted to provide detailed responses explaining DOGE personnel arrangements, Waters cut him off sharply, declaring: “You can’t filibuster here. This is not the filibuster playground.” This dismissive treatment reveals Democrats’ unwillingness to hear facts that contradict their predetermined narratives attacking Trump administration reforms. Waters had sent five letters to Bessent requesting information but received only staff responses, which she characterized as inadequate. However, her hostile questioning style during the hearing demonstrated she was less interested in answers than in creating viral video moments to fuel left-wing media narratives about supposed security breaches and administrative chaos under President Trump.
DOGE Reforms Face Predictable Resistance
The clash between Bessent and Waters exemplifies the broader battle over government efficiency reforms that Americans demanded by reelecting President Trump. The Department of Government Efficiency represents a serious effort to address the bloated federal bureaucracy, wasteful spending, and regulatory overreach that conservatives have fought for years. Democrats like Waters instinctively oppose these reforms because they threaten the massive government apparatus progressives depend on to implement their agenda without accountability. By manufacturing controversies about security clearances and data access, the left attempts to slow reforms that would expose decades of fiscal mismanagement and eliminate unnecessary positions protecting their political interests over taxpayer welfare and constitutional limits on government power.
