Democratic U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, of New Mexico, once again left Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene visibly flustered during a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing Tuesday, prompting Greene to slam her gavel repeatedly and shout over objections in a moment that underscored the deep partisan divide over the Trump administration’s so-called government efficiency reforms.
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The hearing, held by the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, centered on GOP efforts to codify the Department of Government Efficiency, an entity created by executive order that claims to have reduced federal spending by $180 billion. However, Democrats raised alarms over the real-world impact of the cuts—pointing to delays in processing Social Security claims and the erosion of public services.
After one Democrat criticized DOGE’s consequences, Greene attempted to defend Trump’s record. “No one loves veterans more than President Trump,” she said.
Related: How this Democrat fights Marjorie Taylor Greene’s transphobia in Congress with smart preparation
“Madam Chair, right now, it’s not your time,” Stansbury, the ranking member on the committee, interjected.
“I’m the chair of this committee,” Greene snapped.
“That’s not how parliamentary procedure works,” Stansbury replied. “You’re not recognized, Ms. Stansbury,” Greene said, slamming her gavel.
“You’re not recognized either,” Stansbury shot back. “You can’t just speak anytime you want.” Greene continued hammering the gavel. “You can smash your gavel all day, but that’s not how parliamentary—” Stansbury began before Greene shouted over her again.
As Greene continued pounding the gavel, Stansbury insisted, “We’re going to get you a Robert’s Rules of Order.”
Greene remains hammering in frustration. Stansbury calmly added, “Madam Chair, calm down.”
Greene, still shouting “You’re not recognized!” multiple times, attempted to regain control as other members asked for clarification on who had the floor.
It was the second time in as many months that Stansbury publicly unseated Greene’s authority during a subcommittee hearing. In May, Stansbury exposed a doctored image introduced by Greene’s staff as part of an attack on USA Fencing Chair Damien Lehfeldt’s position on including transgender athletes in the sport. Her calm fact-check went viral—along with Greene’s explosive reaction.
In early June, Stansbury said she and her colleagues anticipated these tactics and were prepared to confront them. “We were ready to use every procedural motion we could,” she said.
Stansbury, who represents New Mexico’s First Congressional District, has become one of the most prominent Democratic voices pushing back on what she calls the GOP’s “weird” and obsessive targeting of transgender Americans. She argues that the public isn’t buying it. “It doesn’t come up,” she told The Advocate. “Ever. Once. Never.”
