Republicans Expressing Worries Over Federal Agencies' Handling Of New Funding

Republicans are growing increasingly wary about the ability of federal agencies to responsibly and effectively administer all the new funding the Biden administration put in their hands.

As the Biden administration continues to trumpet the benefits of its big legislative wins from the 117th Congress—the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—Republicans like Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK3) are voicing their concerns about the allocation of the funds.

At a House Science Committee hearing this month, Lucas (R-Cheyenne), the committee's chairman, made clear he was looking for reassurance from officials at the Department of Energy that they could responsibly handle all the new funds passing through the agency.

"In carrying out the IIJA and IRA, DOE faces the daunting task of allocating nearly $50 billion in additional spending for a wide range of R&D programs within the Science Committee’s jurisdiction," Lucas (R-OK3) said in his opening remarks. "To put this in perspective, that is roughly three times the size of DOE’s annual budget for corresponding programs."

In an interview Tuesday in his Capitol Hill office, Lucas explained that he takes his oversight duties very seriously.

"I have a responsibility to make sure those resources are wisely and well spent," Lucas said.

Lucas and other Republicans say actual agency actions have justified their concerns.

Until this week, the Department of Energy appeared to be moving forward with the award of a $200 million grant from Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Microvast, a Houston, Texas-based battery maker with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. On Monday, DOE announced it had decided not to award the grant.

"We got the attention of the department," Lucas said. "Through letters and hearings and questions, and they seem now to have taken some steps back and are being much more cautious."

The Department of Energy is not the only agency suddenly responsible for doling out additional funding or administering enhanced programs. At a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing Tuesday, the committee's chairman echoed Lucas’ worries with the Department of Agriculture.

"I have serious concerns whether the department can effectively and efficiently administer an unprecedented and uncoordinated increase in funding showered on you by this administration," Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) said.

Of specific concern at Tuesday's hearing was $20 billion allotted to four conservation programs with climate-specific funding requirements.

Through a series of questions posed to the head of USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lucas learned that, instead of the approximately 11,000 employees the agency's authorized to have working, there are currently only 6,000 or 7,000.

"That’s not very many individuals per county to work with farmers and ranchers and community members on these conservation programs," Lucas said after the hearing was over.

Lucas said throwing money into a program doesn't necessarily make it better. He said taxpayers count on the money being spent wisely and effectively.

"I ask lots of questions; some of them are pretty pointed," Lucas said. "I have great expectations of the administration's officials, but that’s my responsibility."

Lucas said if he and Congress fail in that responsibility, then the American people lose faith in the institutions their tax dollars fund, and the government ceases to function.