Michael Steele Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Ignorance on Government: “The Level of Stupid is Untenable”

News
Alexis N. Crockett
February 27, 2025
10 minutes read

Michael Steele is seen at the Pasadena Convention Center, California. Steele said on Saturday morning that he is “fed up” with Republicans’ claims about the 2020 election being stolen from Donald Trump. Michael Schwartz/Getty Images

Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele did not hold back in his criticism of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), calling out her lack of understanding regarding basic government functions amid massive federal job cuts.

Greene oversees a subcommittee responsible for managing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative created under former President Donald Trump and later handed over to billionaire Elon Musk. The goal was to eliminate up to $2 trillion in government spending, resulting in a sweeping purge of federal employees, particularly outside of Washington, D.C.

At a subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, Greene framed the mass firings as necessary to stop the “waste, fraud, and abuse” of taxpayer dollars. “That’s changing in quarters as folks on the ground begin to experience more and more of what DOGE isn’t,” Steele remarked during an appearance on MSNBC. “It is not a government efficiency operation. It is not, you know, designed to spare those who are directly impacted by these decisions.”

During the hearing, Greene dismissed federal employees as unproductive, arguing that, unlike businesses, they do not generate profit but instead rely on taxpayer funding. “Federal employees do not deserve their jobs,” Greene said, sparking outrage from critics who pointed out the essential services provided by government workers.

Marjorie Taylor — Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

MSNBC host Chris Jansing responded with a pointed question: “Maybe I’m confused, but isn’t she a federal employee?” “Yes, yes,” Steele affirmed. “The level of stupidity there is untenable. And the fact that she’s the chair of this subcommittee should tell you everything you need to know.

She is a federal employee. The American people don’t agree with what’s happening.” Steele referenced recent polling data indicating that even Republican voters disapprove of the drastic cuts, suggesting that Greene’s aggressive stance does not reflect the will of the people.

“So, I just — this is where we are, Chris,” Steele continued. “And the country is going to have to grapple with the wholesale onslaught against the government and the mess that’s being left in its wake because this is not going to get undone easily. As long as you have individuals like that sitting with power and control over how this plays out.”

With mounting bipartisan concerns over the consequences of these cuts, the debate over government efficiency versus reckless downsizing is likely to remain a contentious issue in the months ahead.