Transcript: Sen. Invoice Hagerty on

The next is the transcript of an interview with Sen. Invoice Hagerty, Republican of Tennessee, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Feb. 9, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Tennessee Republican Senator Invoice Hagerty, who joins us this morning from Palm Seashore, Florida. Good morning to you, Senator.

SEN. BILL HAGERTY: Good morning, Margaret, good to be with you. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: I’ve so much to get to with you right this moment, however I wish to begin with the announcement from the White Home that over 65,000 workers have accepted the provide to go away their jobs with pay by means of September 30. That is that deferred resignation program, or buyout, because it’s referred to as. Are you able to clarify how placing federal staff on paid go away by means of September will save taxpayers cash if we’re paying them to not work?

SEN. HAGERTY: Margaret, finally it’s going to save taxpayers cash. I feel what President Trump is attempting to do is be humane within the strategy of permitting them to make plans to seek out different employment, however I actually suppose the federal government is way too massive, far too bloated, and we’re on a path now to begin to see it shrink. This is step one solely, however we’re transferring in the proper path.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So does that imply the businesses will not rent replacements for these folks who- who take the so referred to as buyout? Are you lowering headcount? 

SEN. HAGERTY: I feel what we’ll see is every agency- yeah, I feel what we’ll see, Margaret, is every company undergo a high to backside evaluation to determine precisely what they should do to ship on behalf of the American public. As you understand, there’s been numerous consternation and pearl clutching in regards to the actions of Elon Musk and his staff, however their cost, led by President Trump, is to go in and discover efficiencies, discover alternatives, and, frankly, ship extra of taxpayer {dollars} to the precise packages which are meant much less to overhead in administration.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you stated finally it’s going to get monetary savings. I do know you are on Appropriations Committee, and also you watch this stuff fairly carefully right here. When will it get monetary savings?

SEN. HAGERTY: Nicely, I’d say actually as quickly as these folks begin to roll off the payroll once more. I am from the personal sector Margaret. My whole background has been in enterprise. That is the best way you do it. You are available, you take a look at the alternatives earlier than you. President Trump has introduced a brand new administration in. This isn’t uncommon, to take a tough take a look at these packages and likewise to search for alternatives to chop bloat and waste. Look, we’re $36 trillion in debt. Clearly, the American- the American public must see extra accountability, extra visibility, extra efficiency for his or her taxpayer {dollars}.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah, and I feel anybody who works within the personal sector understands how layoffs work. The federal government is so distinctive, although, with legal guidelines establishing a few of these businesses. And as you understand, and we’ll speak about it later in this system, a few of that is tied up within the courts. Particularly, because you’re on Banking, the price range director introduced he is notified the Federal Reserve that the Client Monetary Safety Bureau will now not take congressional funding as a result of it isn’t crucial. Elon Musk tweeted, relaxation in peace. Are you able to inform us, did the White Home inform–

SEN. HAGERTY: — I missed Elon Musk’s tweet– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: –the bank- Yeah, did- did the White Home inform the Banking committee that it is being dismantled? What does CFPB relaxation in peace imply? 

SEN. HAGERTY: So I’ve- I’ve had vital conversations with Russ Vought, who’s our new OMB director. The CFPB has been uncontrolled for a while. The way in which it is designed, I feel, is unconstitutional. It has no oversight. It has been mainly a reckless company that is been allowed to go manner past any mandate that I feel was initially meant. So it is time to rein it in, and I am applauding something that we will do to deliver extra stability, extra management to the federal authorities and take businesses like this again, you understand, again into some form of sense of accountability and oversight. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So what does that imply? As a result of it is established as an company and there are authorized protections right here.

SEN. HAGERTY: Nicely, it was established as- as an company that doesn’t have the jurisdiction of the Congress. Its funding supply is separate from us. It has no accountability. This isn’t the kind of company, I feel, that the Founding Fathers contemplated. We- we really contemplated a steadiness of energy. But this rogue company has been created, and albeit, it has been used as a software to return in and simply hammer the American personal sector and pursue initiatives that you just, know, certain- sure folks like Rohit Chopra may need accepted, or Senator Elizabeth Warren may need accepted. However this isn’t the best way the American public must be funding and supporting packages of this nature.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so a unique authorities company, USAID, and its destiny can also be in query. We regarded on the Congressional Analysis Service definition right here, as a result of it was enshrined in legislation, USAID, it says, as a result of Congress established it as unbiased throughout the govt department, “the President doesn’t have the authority to abolish it.” Congressional authorization could be required to abolish, transfer, or consolidate USAID. So, have you ever or do you anticipate Congress to really authorize the President to dismantle and consolidate USAID?

SEN. HAGERTY: I feel there is a great urge for food to do it. Once more, Margaret, as a result of what we wish to see is alignment of our packages with America’s nationwide safety curiosity. USAID has been uncontrolled. I’ve demanded accountability from AID. They’ve refused it. As an appropriator, I’ve, you understand, requested them to be very clear about, for instance, their function in funding Hamas in Gaza. They’d not comply. They won’t inform us what they do. Now that we begin to discover out a few of the packages that AID has been funding, if you concentrate on it, intercourse change operations in Guatemala, LGBTQ packages in Serbia–

(BEGIN CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: The U.S. authorities doesn’t fund intercourse change operations–

SEN. HAGERTY: –this is ridiculous. That is so past the pale–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –or fund Hamas. You realize that, although, however you- you sit on–

SEN. HAGERTY: And that isn’t true, Margaret, I could not get the Secretary of State- I requested him 3 times to inform me that we weren’t funding Hamas by means of AID. He could not do it. And albeit, what we have discovered is–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you may have any proof that the USA authorities is- ter- 

SEN. HAGERTY: –that we have been funding, as American taxpayers, organizations–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –is- is funding a terrorist group? 

SEN. HAGERTY: Actually. The- the funds which have gone to UNRWA, you noticed the- the UNRWA members– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, that is a- UNRWA isn’t a terrorist group–

SEN. HAGERTY: –who have been additionally Hamas members go in and assault on–

MARGARET BRENNAN:  –UNRWA is an element of- of the United Nations– 

SEN. HAGERTY: UNRWA is supporting terrorist teams. And in the event you take a look at what UNRWA has carried out, it has been so counter to our nationwide curiosity. It is unbelievable that we’d fund it. 

(END CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Because you’re on Overseas Relations, let me ask you particularly, what’s taking place contained in the State Division proper now. A gentleman named Darren Beattie has been appointed as performing Below Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. He was fired from the primary Trump administration after he attended a white nationalist conference. He is made numerous inflammatory statements towards girls and minorities. If he could not work for the primary Trump administration, how is he certified to work now? 

SEN. HAGERTY: Margaret, I am not acquainted with Mr. Beattie or the claims that you just raised, but- we wish to speak about {qualifications} for folks serving the administration, why not look again on the prior administration? The one qualification Tony Blinken appeared to must be Secretary of State is that he organized 51 intelligence- so-called intelligence officers to forge a letter to say that the Hunter Biden laptop computer was Russian disinformation. 

(CROSSTALK BEGINS)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay–

SEN. HAGERTY: I imply, we wish to speak about accountability and who must be serving, let’s return and take a look at the final administration– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: –is attending a white nationalist rally apro- if it wasn’t applicable to attend a white nationalist rally then–

SEN. HAGERTY: I do not know something about this, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: –is it applicable now? 

SEN. HAGERTY: I do not know something about this man.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Nicely, the Secretary of State spoke about it–

SEN. HAGERTY: I do not know something about this man. I am not going to reply.

(END CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: –earlier this week, so Secretary Rubio does find out about it. Tariffs. President Trump stated he plans, as quickly as this week, new reciprocal tariffs on all people. It seems like he is broadening out this commerce struggle. Have you learnt precisely which items or international locations will likely be impacted within the coming days?

SEN. HAGERTY: So, I talked with President Trump on Friday about this broadly, Margaret. This can be a concern that he has had for a while. As you understand, I served in his earlier administration and labored my coronary heart out to get two commerce agreements executed with Japan. I used to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan in his administration. This is what we’re attempting to take care of, and it goes all the best way again to World Struggle II and the aftermath. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.

SEN. HAGERTY: We made very favorable phrases of commerce with- with international locations whose economies–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEN. HAGERTY: –had dev- devastated in Europe and Japan. We should always have time-limited that. We should always have put some kind of GDP–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.

SEN. HAGERTY: –per capita restrict on it, as a result of what we’ve now are international locations which have very unfavorable and unfair terms–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.

SEN. HAGERTY: –that are totally developed. So it is time to- to handle this–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, I am sorry– 

SEN. HAGERTY: It is already begun to occur, President Trump and I talk- yeah.

MARGARET BRENNA: Senator, I am sorry, my-

SEN. HAGERTY: –it’s already begun to occur.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I am operating out of time to- due to the business break that is arising here–

SEN. HAGERTY: Okay.

(END CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: –so I’ve to go away it there. I apologize for reducing you off. We’ll be proper again.